Perry County's composite score of 73.2 ranks 46% above the national median of 50.0, signaling solid livability relative to most U.S. counties. This score reflects respectable tax efficiency and housing costs.
2 / 5
Slightly behind Missouri average
At 73.2, Perry County trails Missouri's state average of 74.8 by a modest margin, placing it in the middle range of the state's counties. It represents a typical Missouri livability experience.
3 / 5
Solid tax and moderate income
Perry County delivers a tax score of 82.0 with an effective tax rate of 0.722%, plus a cost score of 78.8 reflecting median home values of $189,400. The income score of 24.7 and median household income of $63,356 provide moderate earning potential.
4 / 5
Higher housing costs for renters
Median gross rent of $923/month is the highest among these eight counties, straining affordability for rental households. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable.
5 / 5
Balanced option for middle income
Perry County suits middle-income families seeking reasonable tax rates and owner-occupied housing values, though renting is pricier. It offers a balanced Midwestern living experience without extreme affordability or high income.
Perry County's composite score of 73.2 ranks 46% above the national median of 50.0, signaling solid livability relative to most U.S. counties. This score reflects respectable tax efficiency and housing costs.
Slightly behind Missouri average
At 73.2, Perry County trails Missouri's state average of 74.8 by a modest margin, placing it in the middle range of the state's counties. It represents a typical Missouri livability experience.
Solid tax and moderate income
Perry County delivers a tax score of 82.0 with an effective tax rate of 0.722%, plus a cost score of 78.8 reflecting median home values of $189,400. The income score of 24.7 and median household income of $63,356 provide moderate earning potential.
Higher housing costs for renters
Median gross rent of $923/month is the highest among these eight counties, straining affordability for rental households. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable.
Balanced option for middle income
Perry County suits middle-income families seeking reasonable tax rates and owner-occupied housing values, though renting is pricier. It offers a balanced Midwestern living experience without extreme affordability or high income.
Score breakdown
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Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Perry County's effective tax rate of 0.722% runs marginally below the national median of 0.91%, positioning it in the moderate range nationally. Homeowners pay $1,368 annually on median property valued at $189,400, noticeably less than the national median tax of $2,690.
Perry ranks near Missouri's state average
Perry County's 0.722% effective rate closely mirrors Missouri's statewide average of 0.733%, making it a typical tax jurisdiction within the state. The $1,368 median property tax runs about 14% above Missouri's median of $1,199, reflecting slightly higher home values in the county.
Perry sits mid-range among eastern counties
Perry County's 0.722% rate places it between neighboring Ste. Genevieve and Washington counties in eastern Missouri. The rate aligns with regional norms, offering neither particularly high nor low tax burdens for the river region.
Perry County's annual property tax
On Perry's $189,400 median home value, owners pay approximately $1,368 in yearly property tax. That translates to roughly $114 monthly—typical for central-eastern Missouri property owners with mid-range home values.
Review Perry assessments for overvaluation
Perry County homeowners should periodically review their assessments against comparable sales in their neighborhood, especially during reassessment years. Requesting a reassessment is free and could reveal if your home's assessed value exceeds its true market value.
Perry County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio exceeds the national baseline, as renters dedicate more than one-sixth of their $63,356 median income to housing each month. The county's $923 median rent—the region's highest—creates affordability pressure despite earning power near the national average.
Higher Costs in a Mid-Tier Income County
Perry County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Missouri's 15.6% state average, and its median rent of $923 significantly outpaces the state average of $768. The county represents a higher-cost housing market within Missouri, requiring stronger incomes to maintain affordability.
Highest Rent Without Highest Income
Perry County's $923 rent is the region's highest, yet its $63,356 median income ranks fourth among eight counties and trails Osage County by $12,000. This rent-to-income mismatch explains why Perry residents face greater affordability strain than peers in lower-cost markets.
Perry's Housing Costs Hit the Hardest
Renters pay $923 monthly—17.5% of the $63,356 median income—while homeowners spend $847, consuming 16% of household earnings. Perry County renters spend significantly more in absolute dollars than peers in other counties, narrowing financial flexibility.
Perry County Suits Higher-Income Relocators
Perry County works best for households relocating with incomes substantially exceeding the $63,356 county median, ideally $75,000+, which would reduce housing burden to manageable levels. If your prospective income matches or falls below the county average, consider lower-cost neighboring counties.
Perry County's median household income of $63,356 trails the national median of $74,755 by 15.2%. The county ranks in the middle tier of U.S. counties for household earnings.
Above average for Missouri counties
Perry County households earn $63,356 annually, exceeding Missouri's state average of $59,503 by 6.5%. This places Perry County in the upper-middle range of Missouri's 114 counties.
Strong performer in eastern region
Perry County's $63,356 median outperforms Pettis County ($60,232) and trails only Newton County ($64,583) in the analysis. The county's per capita income of $32,616 ranks among the higher figures in eastern Missouri.
Housing costs remain manageable
Perry County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.5% stays comfortably below the affordability threshold, signaling reasonable housing costs for renters. The median home value of $189,400 is achievable for households earning near the county median.
Invest in building long-term wealth
Perry County households enjoy solid income with affordable housing, creating opportunities for wealth accumulation. Establishing retirement accounts, diversified investments, and regular savings plans can help residents convert income into lasting financial security.
Perry County performs above national health standards
Perry County residents live 76.4 years on average—0.3 years longer than the U.S. average and 2.1 years above Missouri's baseline. With 18.6% reporting poor or fair health (below the national rate of 18.5%), Perry demonstrates solid health outcomes for a rural Missouri county.
Perry ranks above average statewide
At 76.4 years life expectancy, Perry County exceeds Missouri's 74.3-year average and sits in the state's upper tier for health performance. The 18.6% poor/fair health rate and 10.9% uninsured rate both beat state averages, reflecting stronger-than-typical rural Missouri health conditions.
Perry excels in provider availability
Perry County offers 37 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 90 mental health providers per 100,000—both well above regional averages. This robust workforce, exceeding neighbors like Osage and Newton, directly supports Perry's above-average health outcomes.
Perry's low uninsured rate supports health access
Just 10.9% of Perry County residents lack health insurance, beating Missouri's 12.5% average and ensuring broad coverage for preventive care. This strong insurance rate, combined with good provider access, positions Perry County among Missouri's healthcare success stories.
Perry County: help remaining uninsured get covered
While Perry leads the region, roughly 2,000 residents still lack health insurance and face gaps in healthcare continuity. Encourage uninsured neighbors to visit the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace or call 1-855-Missouri1 to complete Perry County's journey toward universal coverage.
Perry County's composite risk score of 46.18 sits slightly below the national and Missouri averages, yet masks a distinctive hazard profile with earthquake risk at 87.69. This elevated seismic exposure reflects the county's location in the transition zone near the New Madrid Seismic System and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone.
Perry ranks below state average overall
Perry County's composite risk score of 46.18 falls below Missouri's state average of 50.56, positioning it among the safer counties statewide. However, its earthquake risk of 87.69 ranks among the highest in Missouri, creating a localized vulnerability distinct from the county's broader risk profile.
Perry's earthquake risk is exceptional
Perry County's earthquake risk of 87.69 substantially exceeds neighboring Ste. Genevieve and Franklin counties, reflecting its unique positioning relative to regional seismic zones. This seismic outlier status makes earthquake preparedness particularly important despite the county's otherwise favorable overall risk ranking.
Earthquakes the dominant hazard
Perry County's earthquake risk of 87.69 stands as its primary natural disaster concern, significantly above state and national averages. While tornado risk at 58.27 remains moderate, the earthquake exposure dominates the county's hazard profile and demands specialized attention.
Prioritize earthquake insurance
Perry County residents must obtain earthquake insurance or endorsements, as standard homeowner policies exclude seismic damage in this high-risk zone. Structural reinforcement for foundations and connections between structures and foundations should be considered essential investments in seismic resilience.