Very AffordableSafer than AverageDIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE
MissouriCapitol · RebelAt of English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Missouri-governor-mansion · Americasroof of English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Cole County MO Courthouse 20140920-1 · Kbh3rd / CC BY 4.0Missouri State Penitentiary · Stack-becky / CC BY-SA 4.0
Jefferson City is a small city of 42,644 in Missouri, with a median household income of $63,649
and a 2.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jefferson 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: 87.7
Jefferson City's overall cost of living index is 87.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Jefferson City costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Jefferson City, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$189,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$740
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$63,649
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Jefferson City's violent crime rate is 333.6 per 100,000 residents
— 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
333.6 /100k
Property Crime
2039.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Jefferson City is served primarily by DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Jefferson City, MO
National Avg
School District
DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
30
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
6.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Jefferson City sees average highs of 39.6°F in January
and 88.0°F in July,
with 43.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.9 inches of snow per year.
Jefferson City's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Jefferson City roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $189,200 and median rent is $740/month.
Jefferson City's violent crime rate is 333.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2039.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Jefferson City are operated by DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 30 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.7:1. 35.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jefferson City, MO has a population of 42,644, a median household income of $63,649, 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.
Jefferson City averages 39.6°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.6 inches
with about 8.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jefferson City, MO is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 65101, 65109.
The population of Jefferson City, Missouri is 42,644 with a median age of 38.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jefferson City: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $189,200, median household income $63,649, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jefferson City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
