Is Imperial, MO a Good Place to Live?
Imperial is a small town of 5,385 in Missouri, with a median household income of $79,952 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.
Strengths: Imperial 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 Imperial is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Imperial 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: 96.3Imperial's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Imperial costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Imperial, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $202,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,158 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.6% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $79,952 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageImperial's violent crime rate is 256.4 per 100,000 residents — 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Imperial is served primarily by WINDSOR C-1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Imperial, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | WINDSOR C-1 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.6% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 93.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Imperial sees average highs of 41.0°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 42.8 inches of annual precipitation and 9.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Imperial, MO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 41.0°F |
| Average High — July | 88.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Imperial, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,385 | — |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 89.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 13.7% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Imperial
Imperial, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: