What are the schools like in Licking, MO?

Licking is served primarily by LICKING R-VIII. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

What is the median household income in Licking?

The median household income in Licking, MO is $32,202 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.9%.

What is the weather like in Licking, MO?

Licking has an average high temperature of 41.9°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 11.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Licking, MO affordable or expensive?

Licking's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Licking is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $115,800 and the median rent is $583 per month.

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

Licking has a violent crime rate of 72.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 254.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Licking, MO a Good Place to Live?

Licking is a small town of 2,784 in Missouri, with a median household income of $32,202 and a 12.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

All Licking 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: 87.8

Licking's overall cost of living index is 87.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Licking costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Licking, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$115,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$583	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$32,202	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Licking's violent crime rate is 72.8 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

72.8 /100k

Property Crime

254.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Licking is served primarily by LICKING R-VIII. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Licking, MO	National Avg
School District	LICKING R-VIII	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	5.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Licking sees average highs of 41.9°F in January and 88.0°F in July, with 46.5 inches of annual precipitation and 11.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Licking, MO
Average High — January	41.9°F
Average High — July	88.0°F
Annual Precipitation	46.5"
Annual Snowfall	11.0"

Demographics

Metric	Licking, MO	National Avg
Population	2,784	—
Median Age	37.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	14.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Raymondville, MO 11 mi Houston, MO 14 mi Edgar Springs, MO 14 mi Plato, MO 20 mi Salem, MO 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Licking

Licking, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

65542

Licking vs Other Cities

Licking, MO vs Raymondville, MO Licking, MO vs Houston, MO Licking, MO vs Edgar Springs, MO Licking, MO vs Plato, MO Licking, MO vs Salem, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Licking, MO affordable or expensive?

Licking's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Licking roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $115,800 and median rent is $583/month.

What is the crime rate in Licking, MO?

Licking's violent crime rate is 72.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 254.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Licking?

Public schools in Licking are operated by LICKING R-VIII. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 5.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Licking, MO a good place to live?

Licking, MO has a population of 2,784, a median household income of $32,202, and an unemployment rate of 12.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Licking?

Licking averages 41.9°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.5 inches with about 11.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Licking?

Licking, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65542.

What is the population of Licking?

The population of Licking, Missouri is 2,784 with a median age of 37.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Licking?

Key numbers for living in Licking: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,800, median household income $32,202, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Licking side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.