10 Best Places To Live In Missouri, USA - Updated 2024

best places to live in missouri
Gabriel
Gabriel 
Updated
| 6 min read

Although the state of Missouri is located right in the middle of the country, rivers and lakes abound all over its land. In fact, its shores stretch more than the coastline of California. These beaches are mostly safe for any water activity. The state has mountain plateaus, low lands, and plains, so choosing a place to live in makes for an interesting task. Its strategic location puts it in the middle of the country, making it easy for everyone to transfer here. Food processing, aeronautical engineering, transportation, and beer brewing are the four major industries thriving in the “Show-Me” state. Transferring from another place to Missouri is easy as it offers its fair share of places where one can set up residence. Here are the 10 best places to live in Missouri, USA.

We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 08, 2024.

1. Columbia (from USD 156)

Columbia Missouri
Source: Pixabay

If you are looking for a place that puts high regard for education, Columbia is the city for you. Here you will find the highly-ranked University of Missouri. It also has two colleges, to boot. Columbia is also known for its college vibe and is filled with places related to students. When it comes to industrial fields, the city specializes in the medical and insurance industries. All these mean that if you are working in any of these fields and have children in college, Columbia is perfect for you. The downtown area is well-kept and filled with lovely and friendly people. With good residential conditions and a low cost of living, this place is worth considering.

Hampton Inn Columbia hotel is conveniently located near some of the city’s main points of interest and offers rooms outfitted with modern amenities.

Stayed at this property?

Hampton Inn Columbia

Wheelchair accessible

Address: 3410 Clark Lane
148.51 km (92.3 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre Non-smoking rooms Business centre Laundry Dry cleaning Facilities for disabled guests

2. Clayton (from USD 169)

Downtown Clayton
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Paul Sableman used under CC BY 2.0

Living in Clayton allows you to enjoy transportation at will as the city has a road network that connects it to St. Louis and other places in Missouri. Located adjacent to the big city, living here allows you to easily commute to St. Louis and work there without a hitch. Clayton is mostly residential, which plays support to the industrial and commercial companies of St. Louis. The suburb offers a small-town vibe with big city developments like restaurants and cafes found all over. A great reason to live here is the highly-ranked public schools which guarantee your children a good education.

With a fitness center, an outdoor pool and comfortable rooms, the Hampton Inn and Suites Clayton/St. Louis-Galleria Area is your best bet on this side of town.

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Hampton Inn and Suites Clayton/St. Louis-Galleria Area

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible Visual Aid: Braille Visual Aid: Tactile

Address: 216 North Meramec Avenue
33.2 km (20.7 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking Restaurant Pets allowed Meeting/banquet facilities Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre Terrace

3. Kansas City (from USD 153)

Kansas City Skyline
Source: Needpix

Kansas City sits within the Missouri borderline, right across its namesake state. The city embraces its old-world architecture while welcoming contemporary-designed buildings. New developments that should welcome transferees are the recent 7,000 job openings born out of the development of the city’s new entertainment area. This adds to the city’s vibrancy. When it comes to lifestyle options, the city is known for its high concentrations of barbecue restaurants, cafes, and other eateries.

The Hotel Indigo - Kansas City Downtown offers a wide range of features that include an in-house restaurant, allergy-free rooms, easy check-in and check-out, and a fitness center.

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Hotel Indigo - Kansas City Downtown, an IHG Hotel

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 101 West 11th Street
344.98 km (214.4 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking Restaurant Pets allowed Room service Meeting/banquet facilities Bar 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre

4. Wildwood (from USD 128)

Wildwood, Missouri
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user MoBikeFed used under CC BY 2.0

Safety and security are two things Wildwood can boast of immensely. Living here is 77% safer compared to all of the United States. The crime rate here is 88% lower compared to cities and towns in Missouri. This is mainly the reason why Wildwood is an ideal place to live in, especially for those who have families. To this, you may add quality educational institutions that make it the perfect residential area. Houses here are mostly owned by residents because of the easy ways to procure homes. There are other reasons why Wildwood is the best community to raise a family. These are just a few.

The Wildwood Hotel offers features like Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and an indoor pool to help make your stay a comfortable one.

Stayed at this property?

The Wildwood Hotel

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 2801 Fountain Place
8.54 km (5.4 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking Pets allowed Meeting/banquet facilities 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre Golf course (within 3 km) Non-smoking rooms Business centre

5. Lake Ozark (from USD 129)

Lake Ozark, MO Community Bridge 01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kranar Drogin used under CC BY 2.5

This is one of the most relaxing places to live in Missouri. The place is built around the famous lake. Fishing, kayaking, and boating are some of the popular outdoor activities here. There are also many dining spots, shopping centres, entertainment venues, and golf courses. Property here is inexpensive, therefore you can easily buy a home here. It has low crime rates. The place has relaxing natural sites, with the friendliest people in the state welcoming you.

Stay at the Ozark Village Resort & Marina. All the rooms come have a well-equipped kitchen. Plus, there is a swimming area on site.

Stayed at this property?

Buddy's Harbor

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible

Address: 1062 Susan Road
176.95 km (110.0 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Restaurant Pets allowed Room service Meeting/banquet facilities Bar Golf course (within 3 km) Garden Non-smoking rooms

6. Creve Coeur (from USD 209)

Temple Emanuel (Creve Coeur, Missouri)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user LittleT889 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Voted as one of the best neighborhoods to live in Missouri, Creve Coeur has got it going on many fronts. Transferring here means you will enjoy the benefit of being able to purchase your own home as most residents own their houses. This only means that down payment and mortgages are easy to handle. Top this with a reliable public school system. This place is perfect for families. It is near St. Louis, which makes commuting to work a breeze. Creve Coeur has lifestyle options that include numerous restaurants, coffee houses, and parks where you can unwind.

The Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Creve Coeur provides guests elegant and comfortable rooms, plus an indoor pool, fitness center, and daily complimentary breakfast to all guests.

Stayed at this property?

Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Creve Coeur

Wifi Available Wheelchair accessible Visual Aid: Braille Visual Aid: Tactile

Address: 11980 Olive Boulevard
26.53 km (16.5 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking Restaurant Pets allowed Meeting/banquet facilities 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Fitness centre Non-smoking rooms Business centre

7. St. Louis (from USD 61)

St Louis night expblend
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Daniel Schwen used under CC BY-SA 4.0

St. Louis is the ideal location to transfer to if you want the perfect balance between work and life. The cost of living here is relatively low compared to other big cities in the United States. The quality of life of the residents here is very high. To balance this out, St. Louis remains a major business district, with industries covering a wide range of fields. Aside from corporate giants, small and medium establishments thrive in this area, as well. Living here puts you in close proximity to some of the famous landmarks of the country, including the Gateway Arch and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Airbnb rental called “the YELLOW Door” on Glades Avenue is a great place to stay for couples on a romantic getaway or honeymooners. It has one bedroom, a small dining and living area, and a well-equipped kitchen.

Stayed at this property?
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
34.22 km (21.3 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis
1164 reviews   Superhost Wifi Available
PRIVATE ROOM IN RENTAL UNIT 2 Beds 2 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 2

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
gilda's space is very comfortable and welcoming and has such beautiful decor
gilda was so wonderful the full apartment was very quiet & private
the space has everything you need to stay comfortably including a kitchen
very comfortable and a large space to stay
Cleanliness:
very clean and had everything we needed
gilda’s place is very clean quiet and comfortable
gilda's place was great very clean and a fantastic value
great space clean inviting beautiful relaxing and homey
this was a wonderful place to stay very clean and beautiful decor
Host:
gilda is an amazing host
a lovely space with a kind host
very inviting space and such a kind host
the place was great host was quick to respond
great host perfect place great experience
Location:
location is great close enough to downtown
location was great and very safe
great location and nice accommodations
cozy apartment in a great location
a great place and location with great ammenites
Read more reviews

8. Maryland Heights (from USD 229)

Maryland Heights, Missouri
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Paul Sableman used under CC BY 2.0

Maryland Heights is one of the safest neighborhoods to live in Missouri. It has a violent crime rate of 3 and a property crime rate of 25 per 1000 residents. That is one of the lowest in the state of Missouri. It is so safe that residents are known to walk around at night during warmer months. The city is also known to be family-friendly. A new community center was built, where families are invited on certain nights of each month for some activities. At 3.2%, the unemployment rate is kept low with the presence of over 2000 business establishments and the fact that this area is located 20 miles from the business hub of St. Louis.

The Residence Inn by Marriott St. Louis Westport is a perfect hotel for families and couples. The rooms feature an ultra-comfortable bed, a seating area, a mini-kitchen, and a luxurious en-suite bathroom.

Stayed at this property?

Residence Inn by Marriott St. Louis Westport

Wifi Available

Address: 11918 Westline Industrial Drive
29.3 km (18.3 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking Pets allowed 24-HOUR FRONT DESK Free parking Internet services Lift WiFi Available Free WiFi

9. Chesterfield (from USD 132)

Old Chesterfield, Missouri
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mark Ravenscraft used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Chesterfield is a great place to live for single professionals. If you are focused on your career, the place offers a multitude of job opportunities located in the local neighborhood or in St. Louis. The place is also perfect for families. The reason being is that your children will have the benefit of studying in public schools run by either of the two of the best school systems in Missouri. The residents of this place enjoy many benefits that come with living in Chesterfield.

Aside from providing comfortable rooms, the Hyatt Place St. Louis/Chesterfield also offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and a business center, and is located right next to a mall.

Stayed at this property?

Hyatt Place St. Louis/Chesterfield

Address: 333 Chesterfield Center East
18.3 km (11.4 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

On-site parking Pets allowed Restaurant Express check-in/check-out Indoor pool WiFi Available Free WiFi Family rooms

Earn OneKeyCash for every dollar spent on eligible hotels, vacation rentals, flights, car rentals, and more when you book across our family of brands.

10. Branson (from USD 79)

Glimpse of downtown Branson, MO IMG 1726
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Billy Hathorn used under CC BY-SA 4.0

The reasons why Branson is on this list are very important. The most important reason of all is the low taxes. This one benefits everyone who lives here. Then, the cost of living is six percent below the median of the whole country. Career opportunities are wide open and cover the areas of craft, food manufacturing, restaurants, healthcare services, entertainment, and services. The healthcare services offered here are exceptional. The Branson Police Department is highly dependable at patrolling and keeping the city safe. Branson has a lot to offer its residents and transferees.

For stay, we’d recommend booking the Branson Nightly Condos. It has self-catering condo units, complete with modern amenities and a balcony offering views of the mountains.

Stayed at this property?

Branson Nightly Condos

Wifi Available

Address: 388 Wildwood Dr
309.6 km (192.4 mi) from Six Flags St. Louis

Parking Golf course (within 3 km) Non-smoking rooms Fishing Facilities for disabled guests Family rooms Bridal suite Free parking

Missouri is the place to be

Missouri is your best bet when it comes to places to live in the Midwest. It is perfect for families, retirees, professionals, and singles. With the low cost of living, easy to handle mortgages, and low crime rates, the places listed above are the best to stay in Missouri.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Introducing Gabriel, affectionately known as Gabby, a dedicated enthusiast of writing, travel, and gastronomy. With these three passions as guiding stars, life takes on new heights of fulfillment....Read more

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