CountyScore

St. Francois County

Missouri · MO

#101 in Missouri
66.1
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Francois County, Missouri

St. Francois County exceeds national average

With a composite score of 73.8, St. Francois County sits well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 48th percentile nationally. The county offers above-average livability compared to most U.S. counties.

Right in step with Missouri

At 73.8, St. Francois County sits just slightly below Missouri's state average of 74.8, placing it squarely in the middle range of state counties. It performs at roughly the same level as the broader Missouri landscape.

Low taxes and solid affordability

St. Francois County delivers a tax score of 81.2 with an effective rate of 0.749%, and a cost score of 81.8 featuring median home values of $155,100. These moderate-to-affordable housing costs make the county accessible for budget-conscious residents.

Modest income levels hold it back

The county's income score of 19.2 and median household income of $54,813 represent a significant limitation compared to regional benchmarks. Safety, health, school, and environmental data are not yet available.

Good fit for budget-minded families

St. Francois County suits families and retirees seeking a balance between affordability and livability in a rural setting. It offers reasonable housing costs and low taxes, though limited income growth opportunities.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax81.2Cost81.8SafetyComing SoonHealth60.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome19.2Risk21.5WaterComing Soon
🏛81.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠81.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼19.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤60.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡21.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare St. Francois County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Harvey County
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Ascension Parish
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Deep Dives

St. Francois County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in St. Francois County

via TaxByCounty

St. Francois taxes near national average

St. Francois County's effective tax rate of 0.749% sits just above the national median of 0.71%, placing it near the 50th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $1,161 is comfortably below the national median of $2,690, reflecting both lower home values and a lighter tax approach. This positions St. Francois as a fairly typical American county for tax burden.

Slightly above Missouri's average

At 0.749%, St. Francois County's effective rate exceeds Missouri's state average of 0.733% by just 2%. The median property tax of $1,161 is nearly at the state median of $1,199. St. Francois ranks near the state middle, neither particularly tax-friendly nor tax-heavy.

Middle ground in the eastern region

St. Francois County's 0.749% rate falls between lower-tax peers like St. Clair (0.639%) and higher-tax neighbors like Shelby County (0.896%). The county bridges the gap between the region's most and least tax-burdened communities. Its position reflects moderate local government spending relative to regional peers.

Your $155,100 home costs $1,161 yearly

A median-value home in St. Francois County generates an estimated annual property tax of $1,161—approximately $97 per month. Owners with mortgages typically pay around $1,245 when escrow is factored in. Over 30 years, that amounts to roughly $34,830 in property taxes.

St. Francois property owners should appeal

St. Francois County residents can challenge potentially inflated assessments through the county assessor's formal appeal process. Many homeowners discover their properties are overvalued, especially if home values have declined since the last full assessment. Filing an appeal is straightforward and can result in meaningful annual tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Francois County

via CostByCounty

St. Francois housing costs stretch incomes

St. Francois County renters devote 17.2% of income to housing—above both the national benchmark and Missouri's 15.6% average—despite a median income of $54,813. At $786/month, rents are 2% above Missouri's state median, creating affordability pressure for working families.

Among Missouri's least affordable counties

St. Francois ranks in the lower tier of Missouri counties for affordability, with a 17.2% rent-to-income ratio that exceeds the state average by 1.6 percentage points. This gap, though modest in percentage terms, means $100+ more monthly housing cost for the typical household.

Highest costs in the peer group

St. Francois rents ($786/month) exceed Shelby, St. Clair, and Stoddard counties by $150+ and match Missouri's median, yet household incomes lag regional averages. Home values ($155,100) place it in the middle, making both rental and purchase costs relatively burdensome.

Housing consumes significant income share

A St. Francois household earning $54,813 annually ($4,568/month) allocates $786 to rent or $824 to mortgage, consuming 17-18% of gross income. This leaves approximately $3,750 monthly for all other expenses, tighter than most peer counties.

Consider affordability before relocating

St. Francois County's housing costs run higher than neighboring rural counties while incomes remain modest, making it less ideal for cost-conscious relocators. If you're moving from a high-cost urban area, this county may offer savings, but compare it carefully to nearby Shelby or St. Clair first.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Francois County

via IncomeByCounty

St. Francois Income Below U.S. Average

St. Francois County's median household income of $54,813 trails the national median of $74,755 by $19,942. This gap reflects a county economy with less earning power than the typical American county.

Slightly Below Missouri's Average

St. Francois's $54,813 median income runs $4,690 below Missouri's state average of $59,503. The county ranks in the lower-middle tier of Missouri's 114 counties by household income.

Competitive Income Among Peers

St. Francois's $54,813 sits between Shelby County ($52,127) and Ste. Genevieve ($61,310) nearby. The county earns more than St. Clair ($46,731) but significantly less than St. Louis County ($81,340).

Tight Housing-to-Income Ratio

St. Francois's rent-to-income ratio of 17.2% is the highest among area counties, signaling tighter housing affordability pressures. With median home values at $155,100, budget-conscious planning becomes essential for local homebuyers.

Maximize Your Earnings Potential

St. Francois residents should prioritize skill development and career advancement to increase household income over time. Pairing wage growth with disciplined budgeting creates pathways to homeownership and financial security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Francois County

via HealthByCounty

St. Francois faces critical health disparities

At 71.9 years, St. Francois County's life expectancy is 2.6 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, marking one of Missouri's shortest lifespans. With 20.1% of adults reporting poor or fair health—below the national average of 21%—the county shows a troubling disconnect, suggesting concentrated serious illness rather than widespread moderate problems.

St. Francois ranks among Missouri's lowest

St. Francois's 71.9-year life expectancy trails Missouri's state average of 74.3 years by 2.4 years, placing it near the bottom of the state's 114 counties. The uninsured rate of 13.6% exceeds Missouri's 12.5% average, adding economic barriers on top of existing health challenges.

St. Francois struggles worse than surrounding areas

St. Francois's 71.9-year life expectancy is 4.6 years below Ste. Genevieve (76.5) and 4.4 years below St. Louis County (76.3), indicating a severe health crisis relative to nearby counties. Despite having 67 primary care and 321 mental health providers per 100K—the highest mental health capacity in the region—outcomes remain poor, suggesting systemic barriers beyond provider supply.

Provider abundance masks deeper access barriers

St. Francois paradoxically has strong provider numbers—67 primary care and 321 mental health providers per 100K—yet residents live significantly shorter lives, pointing to barriers like transportation, poverty, or medication adherence. The 13.6% uninsured rate means 1 in 7 residents lack coverage, forcing many to delay or skip needed care despite providers' availability.

Insurance is your first step to better health

St. Francois residents should prioritize finding affordable coverage; uninsured status amplifies the county's existing health challenges and prevents access to the providers available. Enroll in a marketplace plan at Healthcare.gov or call local health department for help navigating options and finding coverage today.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Francois County

via RiskByCounty

St. Francois County: Above-Average Hazard Exposure

St. Francois County's composite risk score of 78.53 rates as "Relatively Low" nationally but reflects above-average exposure to natural disasters. The county faces significantly higher threats than most of America's safest regions.

Above Missouri's State Average Risk

At 78.53, St. Francois County exceeds Missouri's state average of 50.56 by roughly 55 percent, placing it in the state's higher-risk group. The county experiences more hazard exposure than most Missouri communities.

Notably Riskier Than Regional Peers

St. Francois County (78.53) faces substantially higher risk than nearby Shelby County (15.94), St. Clair County (25.64), and Ste. Genevieve County (54.61). Only Stoddard County (74.30) approaches comparable hazard levels in the immediate region.

Tornadoes and Earthquakes Demand Attention

St. Francois County residents face severe tornado risk (85.11) and substantial earthquake danger (91.48), with moderate flood risk (70.36) adding complexity. These three hazards should anchor any disaster preparedness plan.

Robust Coverage Critical for This County

St. Francois County homeowners need comprehensive coverage including tornado, earthquake, and flood protections given the county's multi-hazard profile. Investing in strong insurance now can prevent devastating financial losses later.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.