What are the schools like in Liberal, MO?

Liberal is served primarily by LIBERAL R-II. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.9:1.

What is the median household income in Liberal?

The median household income in Liberal, MO is $49,464 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 14.2%.

What is the weather like in Liberal, MO?

Liberal has an average high temperature of 44.2°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 7.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Liberal, MO affordable or expensive?

Liberal's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Liberal is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $64,300 and the median rent is $538 per month.

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

Liberal has a violent crime rate of 469.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 782.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Liberal, MO a Good Place to Live?

Liberal is a small town of 794 in Missouri, with a median household income of $49,464 and a 14.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Liberal stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Liberal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Liberal 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: 84.3

Liberal's overall cost of living index is 84.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Liberal costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Liberal, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$64,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$538	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,464	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Liberal's violent crime rate is 469.5 per 100,000 residents — 24% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

469.5 /100k

Property Crime

782.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Liberal is served primarily by LIBERAL R-II. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Liberal, MO	National Avg
School District	LIBERAL R-II	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Liberal sees average highs of 44.2°F in January and 88.9°F in July, with 45.8 inches of annual precipitation and 7.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Liberal, MO
Average High — January	44.2°F
Average High — July	88.9°F
Annual Precipitation	45.8"
Annual Snowfall	7.3"

Demographics

Metric	Liberal, MO	National Avg
Population	794	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	14.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.8%	22.2%
65 and over	16.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Burgess, MO 5 mi Mulberry, KS 6 mi Mindenmines, MO 7 mi Iantha, MO 7 mi Arcadia, KS 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Liberal

Liberal, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

64762

Liberal vs Other Cities

Liberal, MO vs Burgess, MO Liberal, MO vs Mulberry, KS Liberal, MO vs Mindenmines, MO Liberal, MO vs Iantha, MO Liberal, MO vs Arcadia, KS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Liberal, MO affordable or expensive?

Liberal's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Liberal roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $64,300 and median rent is $538/month.

What is the crime rate in Liberal, MO?

Liberal's violent crime rate is 469.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 782.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Liberal?

Public schools in Liberal are operated by LIBERAL R-II. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1. 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Liberal, MO a good place to live?

Liberal, MO has a population of 794, a median household income of $49,464, and an unemployment rate of 14.2%. 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 Liberal?

Liberal averages 44.2°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.8 inches with about 7.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Liberal?

Liberal, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 64762.

What is the population of Liberal?

The population of Liberal, Missouri is 794 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Liberal?

Key numbers for living in Liberal: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $64,300, median household income $49,464, crime index 89 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Liberal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.