Leadwood is a small town of 1,475 in Missouri, with a median household income of $45,000
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Leadwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Leadwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Leadwood 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: 86.8
Leadwood's overall cost of living index is 86.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Leadwood costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Leadwood, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$56,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$802
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Leadwood's violent crime rate is 221.7 per 100,000 residents
— 42% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
221.7 /100k
Property Crime
1858.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Leadwood is served primarily by WEST ST. FRANCOIS CO. R-IV.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Leadwood, MO
National Avg
School District
WEST ST. FRANCOIS CO. R-IV
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Leadwood sees average highs of 42.8°F in January
and 88.5°F in July,
with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.7 inches of snow per year.
Leadwood's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Leadwood roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $56,400 and median rent is $802/month.
Leadwood's violent crime rate is 221.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1858.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Leadwood are operated by WEST ST. FRANCOIS CO. R-IV.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 13.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Leadwood, MO has a population of 1,475, a median household income of $45,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%.
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.
Leadwood averages 42.8°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches
with about 8.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Leadwood, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63653.
The population of Leadwood, Missouri is 1,475 with a median age of 34.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Leadwood: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $56,400, median household income $45,000, crime index 70 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Leadwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
