Is La Plata, MO a Good Place to Live?
La Plata is a small town of 1,265 in Missouri, with a median household income of $44,286 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is 18% below the national average.
Strengths: La Plata 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether La Plata is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All La Plata 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: 82.2La Plata's overall cost of living index is 82.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in La Plata costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
| Metric | La Plata, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $92,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $333 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $44,286 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeLa Plata's violent crime rate is 80.9 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
La Plata is served primarily by LA PLATA R-II. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | La Plata, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | LA PLATA R-II | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 8.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
La Plata sees average highs of 34.4°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 19.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | La Plata, MO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 34.4°F |
| Average High — July | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | La Plata, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,265 | — |
| Median Age | 46.4 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 20.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 96.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 31.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in La Plata
La Plata, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: