Bates City is a small town of 154 in Missouri, with a median household income of $80,500
and a 17.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bates City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bates City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bates City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.3
Bates City's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bates City costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bates City, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$171,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,321
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$80,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Bates City's violent crime rate is 436.7 per 100,000 residents
— 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
436.7 /100k
Property Crime
2620.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Bates City, MO
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bates City sees average highs of 38.1°F in January
and 87.7°F in July,
with 42.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 11.9 inches of snow per year.
Bates City's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bates City roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $171,400 and median rent is $1,321/month.
Bates City's violent crime rate is 436.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2620.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Bates City, MO has a population of 154, a median household income of $80,500, and an unemployment rate of 17.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bates City averages 38.1°F in January and 87.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.9 inches
with about 11.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bates City, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 64011.
The population of Bates City, Missouri is 154 with a median age of 47.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bates City: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $171,400, median household income $80,500, crime index 119 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bates City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.