What are the schools like in Carthage, MO?

Carthage is served primarily by CARTHAGE R-IX. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Carthage?

The median household income in Carthage, MO is $43,526 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Carthage, MO?

Carthage has an average high temperature of 44.5°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 7.8 inches.

Carthage, MO Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carthage, MO affordable or expensive?

Carthage's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carthage is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $130,400 and the median rent is $854 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carthage, MO?

Carthage has a violent crime rate of 173.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1286.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carthage, MO a Good Place to Live?

Carthage is a small city of 15,491 in Missouri, with a median household income of $43,526 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Carthage stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carthage is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carthage 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: 85.6

Carthage's overall cost of living index is 85.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carthage costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carthage, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$130,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$854	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	46.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,526	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carthage's violent crime rate is 173.6 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

173.6 /100k

Property Crime

1286.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carthage is served primarily by CARTHAGE R-IX. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carthage, MO	National Avg
School District	CARTHAGE R-IX	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	73.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carthage sees average highs of 44.5°F in January and 90.8°F in July, with 48.3 inches of annual precipitation and 7.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carthage, MO
Average High — January	44.5°F
Average High — July	90.8°F
Annual Precipitation	48.3"
Annual Snowfall	7.8"

Demographics

Metric	Carthage, MO	National Avg
Population	15,491	—
Median Age	31.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	31.6%	22.2%
65 and over	12.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brooklyn Heights, MO 3 mi Fidelity, MO 5 mi Carterville, MO 6 mi Duenweg, MO 6 mi Carytown, MO 8 mi

Carthage vs Other Cities

Carthage, MO vs Brooklyn Heights, MO Carthage, MO vs Fidelity, MO Carthage, MO vs Carterville, MO Carthage, MO vs Duenweg, MO Carthage, MO vs Carytown, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carthage, MO affordable or expensive?

Carthage's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carthage roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $130,400 and median rent is $854/month.

What is the crime rate in Carthage, MO?

Carthage's violent crime rate is 173.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1286.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carthage?

Public schools in Carthage are operated by CARTHAGE R-IX. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carthage, MO a good place to live?

Carthage, MO has a population of 15,491, a median household income of $43,526, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Carthage?

Carthage averages 44.5°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.3 inches with about 7.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Carthage?

The population of Carthage, Missouri is 15,491 with a median age of 31.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carthage?

Key numbers for living in Carthage: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $130,400, median household income $43,526, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carthage side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.