Fordland is a small town of 634 in Missouri, with a median household income of $44,375
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fordland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fordland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fordland 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: 89.3
Fordland's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fordland costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fordland, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$106,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$44,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Fordland's violent crime rate is 414.2 per 100,000 residents
— 9% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
414.2 /100k
Property Crime
838.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fordland is served primarily by FORDLAND R-III.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fordland, MO
National Avg
School District
FORDLAND R-III
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fordland sees average highs of 42.2°F in January
and 87.9°F in July,
with 50.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.2 inches of snow per year.
Fordland's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fordland roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $106,300 and median rent is $675/month.
Fordland's violent crime rate is 414.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 838.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fordland are operated by FORDLAND R-III.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 6.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fordland, MO has a population of 634, a median household income of $44,375, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
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.
Fordland averages 42.2°F in January and 87.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.4 inches
with about 5.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fordland, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65652.
The population of Fordland, Missouri is 634 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fordland: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $106,300, median household income $44,375, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fordland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.