What are the schools like in Lamar, MO?

Lamar is served primarily by LAMAR R-I. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.2:1.

What is the median household income in Lamar?

The median household income in Lamar, MO is $32,907 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.7%.

What is the weather like in Lamar, MO?

Lamar has an average high temperature of 42.5°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 7.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Lamar, MO affordable or expensive?

Lamar's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lamar is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $100,500 and the median rent is $750 per month.

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

Lamar has a violent crime rate of 92.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3616.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lamar, MO a Good Place to Live?

Lamar is a small town of 4,298 in Missouri, with a median household income of $32,907 and a 9.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Lamar 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 Lamar is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lamar 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: 89.1

Lamar's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lamar costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lamar, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$100,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$750	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$32,907	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lamar's violent crime rate is 92.7 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

92.7 /100k

Property Crime

3616.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lamar is served primarily by LAMAR R-I. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lamar, MO	National Avg
School District	LAMAR R-I	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lamar sees average highs of 42.5°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 46.2 inches of annual precipitation and 7.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lamar, MO
Average High — January	42.5°F
Average High — July	88.4°F
Annual Precipitation	46.2"
Annual Snowfall	7.3"

Demographics

Metric	Lamar, MO	National Avg
Population	4,298	—
Median Age	38.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	18.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lamar Heights, MO 1 mi Irwin, MO 7 mi Iantha, MO 7 mi Milford, MO 9 mi Jasper, MO 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Lamar

Lamar, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

64759

Lamar vs Other Cities

Lamar, MO vs Lamar Heights, MO Lamar, MO vs Irwin, MO Lamar, MO vs Iantha, MO Lamar, MO vs Milford, MO Lamar, MO vs Jasper, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lamar, MO affordable or expensive?

Lamar's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lamar roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $100,500 and median rent is $750/month.

What is the crime rate in Lamar, MO?

Lamar's violent crime rate is 92.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3616.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lamar?

Public schools in Lamar are operated by LAMAR R-I. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lamar, MO a good place to live?

Lamar, MO has a population of 4,298, a median household income of $32,907, and an unemployment rate of 9.7%. 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 Lamar?

Lamar averages 42.5°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.2 inches with about 7.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lamar?

Lamar, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 64759.

What is the population of Lamar?

The population of Lamar, Missouri is 4,298 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lamar?

Key numbers for living in Lamar: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $100,500, median household income $32,907, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lamar side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.