Median Income
$30,592
household / year
Median Home Value
$97,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$693
gross / month
Cost of Living
88
national avg = 100

Is Steele, MO a Good Place to Live?

Steele is a small town of 1,375 in Missouri, with a median household income of $30,592 and a 25.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Steele stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

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

All Steele 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: 88.4

Steele's overall cost of living index is 88.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Steele costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric Steele, MO National Avg
Median Home Value $97,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $693 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 51.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $30,592 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Steele's violent crime rate is 475.9 per 100,000 residents — 25% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
475.9 /100k
Property Crime
3033.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Steele is served primarily by SOUTH PEMISCOT CO. R-V. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Steele, MO National Avg
School District SOUTH PEMISCOT CO. R-V
Elementary Schools 2
Middle Schools N/A
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 10.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 83.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Steele sees average highs of 47.5°F in January and 90.9°F in July, with 43.0 inches of annual precipitation and 2.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricSteele, MO
Average High — January47.5°F
Average High — July90.9°F
Annual Precipitation43.0"
Annual Snowfall2.9"

Demographics

MetricSteele, MONational Avg
Population1,375
Median Age34.938.9
Unemployment Rate25.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time17.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)77.3%59.3%
Black or African American16.9%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.0%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1820.1%22.2%
65 and over17.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Steele

Steele, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Steele vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Steele's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Steele roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,600 and median rent is $693/month.
Steele's violent crime rate is 475.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3033.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Steele are operated by SOUTH PEMISCOT CO. R-V. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Steele, MO has a population of 1,375, a median household income of $30,592, and an unemployment rate of 25.4%. 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.
Steele averages 47.5°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.0 inches with about 2.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Steele, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63877.
The population of Steele, Missouri is 1,375 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Steele: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $97,600, median household income $30,592, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Steele side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.