Best Counties in Missouri — 2026 Rankings
115 of 115 counties scored across 12 dimensions
115
115 scored
50/100
composite score
68.2/100
26.1—68.2
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Missouri
Missouri Ranks Near the National Median for Livability
Missouri earns an average composite score of 50.3, placing it just slightly above the national median of 50.0. This score reflects a balanced profile across its 115 counties, positioning the state as a middle-of-the-pack performer for overall quality of life.
Affordability and Low Taxes Drive Missouri's Value
The Show-Me State excels in cost-of-living metrics, boasting a high cost score of 65.3 and a tax score of 61.3. These figures indicate that residents enjoy significantly greater purchasing power and lower fiscal burdens than those in many other states.
Income Levels and Health Outcomes Lag Behind
The state faces headwinds in earning potential and wellness, with an income score of 37.5 and a health score of 38.1. These lower marks suggest that while living is cheap, residents often navigate more limited healthcare access and lower-than-average wages.
Osage and Reynolds Counties Lead the State
Osage County takes the top spot with a composite score of 67.2, supported by a strong income score of 77.8. Reynolds County follows at 66.2, fueled by an exceptional cost score of 94.9 and a tax score of 89.7, making it a champion of affordability.
A Stable Choice for Budget-Conscious Residents
Missouri is best suited for families and retirees who prioritize low costs and tax efficiency over high-income urban hubs. With an overall score of 50.3, it offers a practical, middle-ground lifestyle for those looking to stretch their dollars further.
All County Rankings in Missouri
Search, sort, and filter all 115 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 115 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osage County | 68.2 | 73.9 | 87.2 | 76.5 | 63.7 | 67.4 | 48.1 | 67.1 | 44 | 58.5 | 64.9 | 64.7 | |
| 2 | Reynolds County | 66.2 | 95 | 91.3 | 5.8 | 91.8 | 23.5 | 50.3 | 36.1 | 30 | 54.1 | 56.6 | 42.4 | |
| 3 | Knox County | 65.2 | 48 | 84.3 | 27.6 | 92.6 | 26.6 | 66.4 | 79 | 86 | 52 | 78.4 | 65.7 | |
| 4 | Caldwell County | 64.5 | 50.1 | 82.4 | 47.5 | 82.5 | 37.5 | 71.5 | 85.6 | 10.9 | 50.3 | 69.3 | 81.6 | |
| 5 | Wright County | 63.8 | 93.3 | 90.3 | 8.5 | 73.4 | 24.3 | 45.9 | 42.6 | 86 | 60.6 | 55.1 | 57.6 | |
| 6 | Chariton County | 63.5 | 67.3 | 88.8 | 65.5 | 52.6 | 54.5 | 57.2 | 70.6 | 19.1 | 56 | 73.8 | 79.8 | |
| 7 | Maries County | 63.5 | 83.4 | 82.3 | 32.3 | 67.6 | 31.5 | 46.7 | 79.2 | 86 | 63.1 | 55.7 | 56.9 | |
| 8 | Ralls County | 63.2 | 57 | 78.8 | 48.9 | 79.7 | 50.9 | 47.7 | 86 | 19.9 | 55.4 | 74.3 | 65 | |
| 9 | Lewis County | 63 | 59.6 | 86 | 33.5 | 79.7 | 33.5 | 57.8 | 72.6 | 36.2 | 52.3 | 76.7 | 71.3 | |
| 10 | Sullivan County | 63 | 61.7 | 79.8 | 25.8 | 81.9 | 31.8 | 64.4 | 89.9 | 24.1 | 45.7 | 72.4 | 79.3 | |
| 11 | Mercer County | 62.5 | 38.9 | 89 | 41.8 | 88.2 | 37.8 | 55.8 | 87.8 | 4.3 | 50.2 | 69.7 | 84.8 | |
| 12 | Putnam County | 62.5 | 34.4 | 74.4 | 44.2 | 88.2 | 46.9 | 62.5 | 91.8 | 32.2 | 52.5 | 73.8 | 81.3 | |
| 13 | Linn County | 62.1 | 58.2 | 89.3 | 38.8 | 73.9 | 37.3 | 41.6 | 68.8 | 86 | 54.6 | 74.8 | 84.8 | |
| 14 | Moniteau County | 60.8 | 62 | 71.5 | 50.1 | 89.9 | 31.1 | 41 | 69 | 46.7 | 58.9 | 70.7 | 72.3 | |
| 15 | Oregon County | 60.8 | 78 | 93.4 | 4.4 | 73.7 | 16.1 | 53.7 | 51.3 | 45.8 | 52.4 | 46.6 | 47.7 | |
| 16 | Dallas County | 60.6 | 93.5 | 86.4 | 18.4 | 50.3 | 23.5 | 54.3 | 58.3 | 86 | 56.9 | 54.4 | 58.5 | |
| 17 | Shannon County | 60.6 | 91 | 87.1 | 21.6 | 60.5 | 20 | 49.8 | 42.5 | 86 | 54.1 | 46.9 | 46.7 | |
| 18 | Ozark County | 60.4 | 90.5 | 95 | 5 | 63.8 | 19.3 | 47.6 | 64.3 | 11.4 | 63.3 | 44.6 | 52 | |
| 19 | Scotland County | 59.8 | 51.8 | 71.1 | 59.5 | 97.5 | 32.7 | 40.6 | 67.1 | 8.4 | 48 | 78.1 | 76.4 | |
| 20 | Douglas County | 59.7 | 90.3 | 85.9 | 6.6 | 58 | 30.2 | 34.1 | 76.3 | 86 | 58.3 | 50.9 | 54.3 | |
| 21 | Shelby County | 59.7 | 45.9 | 87 | 14.6 | 73.6 | 37.9 | 59.3 | 84.1 | 14.2 | 52.5 | 76.9 | 69.8 | |
| 22 | Hickory County | 59.5 | 92.7 | 89.5 | 2.1 | 68.7 | 22.6 | 34.1 | 76.6 | 17.5 | 60 | 48.9 | 54.2 | |
| 23 | St. Clair County | 59.4 | 70.3 | 86.7 | 17.5 | 79.2 | 35.3 | 24.5 | 74.4 | 41 | 55.8 | 56.1 | 55.7 | |
| 24 | Holt County | 59.1 | 60.5 | 86.3 | 37.4 | 56.2 | 53 | 41.9 | 84.3 | 18.2 | 50.8 | 69.7 | 75.2 | |
| 25 | Worth County | 58.6 | 49.1 | 96.7 | 8.4 | 58.3 | 41.5 | 38.9 | 91.8 | 86 | 51 | 71.9 | 81.1 |
Osage County
Reynolds County
Knox County
Caldwell County
Wright County
Chariton County
Maries County
Ralls County
Lewis County
Sullivan County
Mercer County
Putnam County
Linn County
Moniteau County
Oregon County
Dallas County
Shannon County
Ozark County
Scotland County
Douglas County
Shelby County
Hickory County
St. Clair County
Holt County
Worth County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Missouri
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Missouri.
What is the best county in Missouri?
Osage County is the top-ranked county in Missouri with a CountyScore of 68.2/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate.
How many counties are ranked in Missouri?
Missouri has 115 counties in total. Of those, 115 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to nine baseline data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, and Weather & Climate. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever baseline dimensions have data. Currently available baseline dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Missouri?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Missouri is 50/100. The national average is 50/100, so Missouri counties score 0 points above the national average.
How does Missouri compare to other states?
Missouri's average county score of 50/100 is 0 points above the national average of 50/100. You can compare Missouri counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Missouri.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.