The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Missouri

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 141 towns of 500–10,000 people in Missouri. #1 is Carrollton, MO.

1. 25Mount Vernon, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Missouri towns

   Mount Vernon is a city of 4,526 people in Lawrence County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of Missouri towns and hipper than 88% of Missouri towns.

   4,526 people · Lawrence County · median home $186,800 · income $53,255 · Jan low 22°F · 9 in snow

   Full Mount Vernon, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Odessa, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Missouri towns

   Odessa is a city of 5,593 people in Lafayette County, Missouri. It also ranks more of a college town than 95% of Missouri towns and easier by car than 79% of Missouri towns.

   5,593 people · Lafayette County · median home $238,200 · income $100,022 · Jan low 18°F · 13 in snow

   Full Odessa, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Nevada, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 87% of Missouri towns

   Nevada is a city of 8,212 people in Vernon County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 88% of Missouri towns and better for young professionals than 84% of Missouri towns.

   8,212 people · Vernon County · median home $122,700 · income $42,813 · Jan low 22°F · 6 in snow

   Full Nevada, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Brookfield, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Missouri towns

   Brookfield is a city of 4,111 people in Linn County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of Missouri towns and better for retirees than 86% of Missouri towns.

   4,111 people · Linn County · median home $102,100 · income $53,000 · Jan low 18°F · 19 in snow

   Full Brookfield, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Dellwood, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Missouri towns

   Dellwood is a city of 4,914 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. It also ranks better transit than 92% of Missouri towns and more walkable than 87% of Missouri towns.

   4,914 people · St. Louis County · median home $83,700 · income $72,540 · Jan low 24°F · 17 in snow

   Full Dellwood, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Peculiar, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Missouri towns

   Peculiar is a city of 5,621 people in Cass County, Missouri. It also ranks easier by car than 76% of Missouri towns and more upscale than 72% of Missouri towns.

   5,621 people · Cass County · median home $283,900 · income $94,519 · Jan low 21°F · 14 in snow

   Full Peculiar, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Boonville, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 88% of Missouri towns

   Boonville is a city of 7,964 people in Cooper County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 91% of Missouri towns and better for young professionals than 85% of Missouri towns.

   7,964 people · Cooper County · median home $187,900 · income $56,429 · Jan low 20°F · 13 in snow

   Full Boonville, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18El Dorado Springs, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 89% of Missouri towns

   El Dorado Springs is a city of 3,493 people in Cedar County, Missouri. It also ranks better transit than 79% of Missouri towns.

   3,493 people · Cedar County · median home $103,900 · income $32,128 · Jan low 22°F · 2 in snow

   Full El Dorado Springs, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Higginsville, Missouri

   Better for first-time buyers than 89% of Missouri towns

   

   Higginsville is a city of 4,817 people in Lafayette County, Missouri. It also ranks better for retirees than 91% of Missouri towns and hipper than 76% of Missouri towns.

   4,817 people · Lafayette County · median home $166,100 · income $81,033 · Jan low 18°F · 14 in snow

   Full Higginsville, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16St. John, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 90% of Missouri towns

    St. John is a city of 6,643 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. It also ranks hipper than 97% of Missouri towns and more walkable than 96% of Missouri towns.

    6,643 people · St. Louis County · median home $106,300 · income $53,755 · Jan low 24°F · 17 in snow

    Full St. John, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Woodson Terrace, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Missouri towns

    Woodson Terrace is a city of 3,950 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Missouri towns and more vibrant than 97% of Missouri towns.

    3,950 people · St. Louis County · median home $104,000 · income $47,417 · Jan low 24°F · 17 in snow

    Full Woodson Terrace, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Trenton, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 91% of Missouri towns

    Trenton is a city of 5,609 people in Grundy County, Missouri. It also ranks hipper than 92% of Missouri towns and more of a college town than 91% of Missouri towns.

    5,609 people · Grundy County · median home $99,500 · income $50,015 · Jan low 16°F · 17 in snow

    Full Trenton, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Fredericktown, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 92% of Missouri towns

    Fredericktown is a city of 4,429 people in Madison County, Missouri. It also ranks better transit than 80% of Missouri towns.

    4,429 people · Madison County · median home $136,100 · income $49,375 · Jan low 21°F · 9 in snow

    Full Fredericktown, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12New Madrid, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 93% of Missouri towns

    

    New Madrid is a city of 2,787 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. The median home is worth $127,500 (typical Missouri town: $153,900).

    2,787 people · New Madrid County · median home $127,500 · income $57,727 · Jan low 28°F · 5 in snow

    Full New Madrid, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Potosi, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 94% of Missouri towns

    Potosi is a city of 2,538 people in Washington County, Missouri. The median home is worth $110,100 (typical Missouri town: $153,900).

    2,538 people · Washington County · median home $110,100 · income $39,846 · Jan low 21°F · 12 in snow

    Full Potosi, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Charleston, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 95% of Missouri towns

    Charleston is a city of 5,056 people in Mississippi County, Missouri. The median home is worth $123,700 (typical Missouri town: $153,900).

    5,056 people · Mississippi County · median home $123,700 · income $33,952 · Jan low 26°F · 3 in snow

    Full Charleston, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Berkeley, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 95% of Missouri towns

    Berkeley is a city of 8,228 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 99% of Missouri towns and better transit than 95% of Missouri towns.

    8,228 people · St. Louis County · median home $82,300 · income $44,265 · Jan low 24°F · 17 in snow

    Full Berkeley, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Versailles, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Missouri towns

    Versailles is a city of 2,539 people in Morgan County, Missouri. It also ranks better for cycling than 94% of Missouri towns and hipper than 87% of Missouri towns.

    2,539 people · Morgan County · median home $117,500 · income $33,586 · Jan low 22°F · 10 in snow

    Full Versailles, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Portageville, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Missouri towns

    Portageville is a city of 2,942 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. It also ranks more of a college town than 89% of Missouri towns and more walkable than 71% of Missouri towns.

    2,942 people · New Madrid County · median home $152,400 · income $52,279 · Jan low 28°F · 7 in snow

    Full Portageville, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Lamar, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 96% of Missouri towns

    Lamar is a city of 4,266 people in Barton County, Missouri. It also ranks hipper than 89% of Missouri towns and better for young professionals than 80% of Missouri towns.

    4,266 people · Barton County · median home $117,200 · income $36,705 · Jan low 22°F · 7 in snow

    Full Lamar, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Bethany, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Missouri towns

    Bethany is a city of 2,915 people in Harrison County, Missouri. It also ranks better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns and more walkable than 71% of Missouri towns.

    2,915 people · Harrison County · median home $121,700 · income $48,375 · Jan low 16°F · 21 in snow

    Full Bethany, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4North Kansas City, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 97% of Missouri towns

    North Kansas City is a city of 4,467 people in Clay County, Missouri. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Missouri towns and hipper than 98% of Missouri towns.

    4,467 people · Clay County · median home $197,500 · income $49,682 · Jan low 22°F · 11 in snow

    Full North Kansas City, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Normandy, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 98% of Missouri towns

    Normandy is a city of 4,287 people in St. Louis County, Missouri. It also ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Missouri towns and better transit than 97% of Missouri towns.

    4,287 people · St. Louis County · median home $87,300 · income $29,379 · Jan low 24°F · 17 in snow

    Full Normandy, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Fayette, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 99% of Missouri towns

    Fayette is a city of 2,803 people in Howard County, Missouri. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Missouri towns and better for young professionals than 95% of Missouri towns.

    2,803 people · Howard County · median home $146,700 · income $57,679 · Jan low 18°F · 12 in snow

    Full Fayette, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Carrollton, Missouri

    Better for first-time buyers than 100% of Missouri towns

    Carrollton is a city of 3,514 people in Carroll County, Missouri. It also ranks better for retirees than 96% of Missouri towns and hipper than 84% of Missouri towns.

    3,514 people · Carroll County · median home $110,200 · income $49,777 · Jan low 17°F · 13 in snow

    Full Carrollton, Missouri profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Missouri rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Missouri
• The 22 Quietest Small Towns in Missouri
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Missouri
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Missouri
• 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Missouri
• 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Missouri

Same ranking, other places

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• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Ohio