Ridgeway is a small town of 516 in Missouri, with a median household income of $36,500
and a 11.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ridgeway stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ridgeway is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ridgeway 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: 88.1
Ridgeway's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ridgeway costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ridgeway, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$67,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$842
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$36,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ridgeway's violent crime rate is 71.8 per 100,000 residents
— 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
71.8 /100k
Property Crime
179.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ridgeway is served primarily by RIDGEWAY R-V.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ridgeway, MO
National Avg
School District
RIDGEWAY R-V
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
4.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ridgeway sees average highs of 34.0°F in January
and 86.6°F in July,
with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 21.2 inches of snow per year.
Ridgeway's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ridgeway roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $67,000 and median rent is $842/month.
Ridgeway's violent crime rate is 71.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 179.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ridgeway are operated by RIDGEWAY R-V.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 4.4:1. 7.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ridgeway, MO has a population of 516, a median household income of $36,500, and an unemployment rate of 11.3%.
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.
Ridgeway averages 34.0°F in January and 86.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches
with about 21.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ridgeway, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 64481.
The population of Ridgeway, Missouri is 516 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ridgeway: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $67,000, median household income $36,500, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ridgeway side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.