What are the schools like in Center, MO?

Center is served primarily by RALLS CO. R-II. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Center?

The median household income in Center, MO is $61,458 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Center, MO?

Center has an average high temperature of 36.0°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Center, MO affordable or expensive?

Center's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Center is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $80,800 and the median rent is $435 per month.

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

Center has a violent crime rate of 48.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 388.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Center, MO a Good Place to Live?

Center is a small town of 542 in Missouri, with a median household income of $61,458 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

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

All Center 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: 83.7

Center's overall cost of living index is 83.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Center costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Center, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$80,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$435	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	85.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,458	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Center's violent crime rate is 48.5 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

48.5 /100k

Property Crime

388.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Center is served primarily by RALLS CO. R-II. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Center, MO	National Avg
School District	RALLS CO. R-II	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Center sees average highs of 36.0°F in January and 86.2°F in July, with 41.7 inches of annual precipitation and 12.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Center, MO
Average High — January	36.0°F
Average High — July	86.2°F
Annual Precipitation	41.7"
Annual Snowfall	12.5"

Demographics

Metric	Center, MO	National Avg
Population	542	—
Median Age	36.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	29.0%	22.2%
65 and over	19.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New London, MO 9 mi Perry, MO 9 mi Rensselaer, MO 11 mi Frankford, MO 11 mi Florida, MO 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Center

Center, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

63436

Center vs Other Cities

Center, MO vs New London, MO Center, MO vs Perry, MO Center, MO vs Rensselaer, MO Center, MO vs Frankford, MO Center, MO vs Florida, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Center, MO affordable or expensive?

Center's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Center roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $80,800 and median rent is $435/month.

What is the crime rate in Center, MO?

Center's violent crime rate is 48.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 388.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Center?

Public schools in Center are operated by RALLS CO. R-II. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 9.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Center, MO a good place to live?

Center, MO has a population of 542, a median household income of $61,458, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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 Center?

Center averages 36.0°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.7 inches with about 12.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Center?

Center, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63436.

What is the population of Center?

The population of Center, Missouri is 542 with a median age of 36.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Center?

Key numbers for living in Center: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $80,800, median household income $61,458, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.