Cole County's composite score of 73.5 significantly surpasses the national median of 50, placing it in the 75th percentile of U.S. counties. This top-tier performance reflects strong fundamentals across measured livability dimensions.
2 / 5
At Missouri's Quality Standard
Cole County scores 73.5, nearly matching Missouri's state average of 74.8, positioning it solidly within the upper tier of Missouri's county rankings. The county performs at or above the state baseline across most measured categories.
3 / 5
Balanced Affordability and Tax Benefits
Cole County leads with a cost score of 79.5 and tax score of 79.6, featuring the lowest effective tax rate (0.806%) and one of the most affordable rents ($804/month) in this group. The median household income of $73,273 provides solid earning power to support this sustainable cost structure.
4 / 5
Income Potential Could Improve
The income score of 31.2 suggests room for wage growth, as median earnings of $73,273 don't fully match the county's strong fiscal position. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable.
5 / 5
Ideal for Pragmatic, Value-Focused Residents
Cole County appeals to practical families and professionals seeking the sweet spot between low taxes, affordable housing, and respectable incomes. This is a solid all-around choice for those valuing balanced livability without compromising on any core affordability factor.
Cole County's composite score of 73.5 significantly surpasses the national median of 50, placing it in the 75th percentile of U.S. counties. This top-tier performance reflects strong fundamentals across measured livability dimensions.
At Missouri's Quality Standard
Cole County scores 73.5, nearly matching Missouri's state average of 74.8, positioning it solidly within the upper tier of Missouri's county rankings. The county performs at or above the state baseline across most measured categories.
Balanced Affordability and Tax Benefits
Cole County leads with a cost score of 79.5 and tax score of 79.6, featuring the lowest effective tax rate (0.806%) and one of the most affordable rents ($804/month) in this group. The median household income of $73,273 provides solid earning power to support this sustainable cost structure.
Income Potential Could Improve
The income score of 31.2 suggests room for wage growth, as median earnings of $73,273 don't fully match the county's strong fiscal position. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable.
Ideal for Pragmatic, Value-Focused Residents
Cole County appeals to practical families and professionals seeking the sweet spot between low taxes, affordable housing, and respectable incomes. This is a solid all-around choice for those valuing balanced livability without compromising on any core affordability factor.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛79.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.806%, Cole County's effective tax rate is significantly higher than the national median, where homeowners typically pay $2,690 annually. This places Cole County well above most U.S. counties, making property taxes a more substantial expense for local residents.
Missouri's Higher-Tax Counties
Cole County's effective rate of 0.806% exceeds Missouri's state average of 0.733%, positioning it firmly in the upper tier of Missouri counties. The median tax of $1,728 runs 44% above the state median of $1,199, reflecting elevated tax pressure.
Comparable to Clinton, Higher Than Others
Cole County (0.806%) closely mirrors Clinton County (0.861%) but substantially outpaces neighboring Cooper County (0.676%) and Crawford County (0.609%). In the regional context, Cole maintains a relatively high-tax profile.
Annual Tax Bill on Median Home
On a median home valued at $214,400, Cole County homeowners pay approximately $1,728 per year in property taxes—roughly $144 monthly. This cost climbs to $1,713 for homeowners with mortgages, creating a steady annual burden.
Assessment Appeals Can Reduce Your Tax
Many Cole County property owners overpay due to inflated assessed values that don't reflect current market conditions. Filing a tax appeal to challenge your assessment could potentially lower your annual bill and recover overpayments.
Cole County renters spend just 13.2% of their income on housing, nearly 3 percentage points below the national average and well below Missouri's state average of 15.6%. With a median household income of $73,273 and median rent of $804, the county offers one of Missouri's most balanced housing-to-income ratios.
Among Missouri's most affordable
Cole County ranks among the state's best performers on housing affordability, with a 13.2% rent-to-income ratio that beats the Missouri average by 2.4 points. The county's median rent of $804 falls below the state's $768 average, making it a notably accessible market.
Beats all nearby counties
Cole County's median rent of $804 and 13.2% rent-to-income ratio outperform every adjacent county, including DeKalb ($796 rent, 13.8% ratio) and Cooper ($763 rent, 13.6% ratio). This positions Cole as the affordability leader in its immediate region.
Housing takes 13.2% of income
The typical Cole County household earns $73,273 annually and pays $804 monthly for rent or $950 for ownership, consuming just 13.2% of gross income. This balance leaves renters and owners more breathing room for other expenses compared to state and national averages.
A solid affordability case
Cole County presents a compelling option for renters and homebuyers seeking reasonable housing costs without sacrificing income levels. The median household income of $73,273 combined with moderate rent and mortgage costs make this county one of Missouri's most livable markets.
Cole County's median household income of $73,273 trails the national median of $74,755 by just $1,482, placing it squarely in the national mainstream. This near-parity reflects a healthy, competitive regional economy.
Missouri's income leader in this region
Cole County's median income of $73,273 surpasses Missouri's state average of $59,503 by 23.2%, making it one of the state's strongest-earning counties. This $13,770 edge signals robust employment and economic opportunity.
Cole County tops regional competition
Cole County ($73,273) leads Clinton County ($70,625) and DeKalb County ($69,093), establishing itself as the income powerhouse of central Missouri. This regional leadership reflects a diversified economy and stable employment base.
Rental costs are very manageable
Cole County's rent-to-income ratio of just 13.2% is well below the 15% affordability benchmark, giving renters substantial financial breathing room. With a median home value of $214,400, homeownership remains within reach for typical households.
Strong income supports long-term planning
Cole County residents enjoy one of Missouri's best platforms for wealth building, with the financial capacity to invest aggressively in retirement and education. Consider working with a financial advisor to maximize tax-advantaged accounts and diversify investments.
Cole County's 77.1-year life expectancy ranks 3.4 years above the U.S. average of 73.7 years, placing it among America's healthier counties. Only 15.6% of residents report poor or fair health, well below the national average of 19.3%.
Missouri's health leader
Cole County has the highest life expectancy among these eight counties at 77.1 years—2.8 years above Missouri's state average of 74.3 years. An uninsured rate of 9.1% is the lowest in this group and significantly beats the state average of 12.5%.
Clear health advantage over peers
Cole County's 77.1-year life expectancy outpaces all neighboring counties in this analysis, including Cooper County at 77.3 years by comparison in some metrics. The county's 15.6% poor/fair health rate is the best among these eight, reflecting superior population wellness.
Exceptional mental health infrastructure
Cole County boasts an exceptional 252 mental health providers per 100K population—among the highest in the nation—ensuring robust access to behavioral health services. With 70 primary care providers per 100K and only 9.1% uninsured, residents enjoy comprehensive access to preventive and specialist care.
Keep your coverage strong
Cole County's strong insurance rates mean most residents are protected, but 1 in 11 still lack coverage. If you're uninsured or underinsured, explore Healthcare.gov plans to maximize your access to the excellent providers in your community.
Cole County's composite risk score of 73.44 ranks it Relatively Low nationally, but substantially exceeds Missouri's state average of 50.56 by 23 points. This elevation reflects genuine multi-hazard exposure that demands serious preparedness planning.
Among Missouri's Riskiest Counties
Cole County ranks in the upper tier of Missouri's 114 counties for overall disaster risk, driven by exceptionally high earthquake (82.32) and tornado (84.32) scores. Only a handful of Missouri counties face comparable seismic and severe weather threats.
Higher Risk Than Surrounding Areas
Cole County's 73.44 score significantly outpaces Cooper County (20.39), Dallas County (41.70), and Daviess County (30.06). This gap underscores Cole's unique vulnerability profile, particularly its elevated earthquake and tornado risk.
Tornadoes and Earthquakes Dominate
Tornado risk of 84.32 ranks as Cole County's most pressing threat, while earthquake risk of 82.32 poses unusual seismic exposure for Missouri. Flood risk of 73.47 completes a trifecta of serious hazards requiring comprehensive household planning.
Multi-Hazard Insurance Strategy
Cole County residents need windstorm, flood, and earthquake coverage—an unusually comprehensive insurance package for Missouri. Retrofit a safe room or reinforced shelter to withstand both tornado and earthquake impacts, and ensure your homeowners policy covers each distinct peril.