Strafford is a small town of 2,570 in Missouri, with a median household income of $57,266
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Strafford 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Strafford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Strafford 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: 89.3
Strafford's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Strafford costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Strafford, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$148,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$916
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,266
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Strafford's violent crime rate is 254.5 per 100,000 residents
— 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
254.5 /100k
Property Crime
2181.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Strafford is served primarily by STRAFFORD R-VI.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Strafford, MO
National Avg
School District
STRAFFORD R-VI
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Strafford sees average highs of 42.2°F in January
and 87.9°F in July,
with 45.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 5.2 inches of snow per year.
Strafford's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Strafford roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $148,000 and median rent is $916/month.
Strafford's violent crime rate is 254.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2181.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Strafford are operated by STRAFFORD R-VI.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Strafford, MO has a population of 2,570, a median household income of $57,266, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Strafford averages 42.2°F in January and 87.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.7 inches
with about 5.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Strafford, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65757.
The population of Strafford, Missouri is 2,570 with a median age of 35.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Strafford: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $148,000, median household income $57,266, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Strafford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.