Van Buren is a small town of 1,125 in Missouri, with a median household income of $22,143
and a 0.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is
17% below the national average.
Strengths:
Van Buren 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 Van Buren is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Van Buren 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: 83.2
Van Buren's overall cost of living index is 83.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Van Buren costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.
Metric
Van Buren, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$107,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$343
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$22,143
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Van Buren's violent crime rate is 261.4 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
261.4 /100k
Property Crime
261.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Van Buren is served primarily by VAN BUREN R-I.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Van Buren, MO
National Avg
School District
VAN BUREN R-I
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
5.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Van Buren sees average highs of 43.3°F in January
and 89.4°F in July,
with 48.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.0 inches of snow per year.
Van Buren's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Van Buren roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $107,800 and median rent is $343/month.
Van Buren's violent crime rate is 261.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 261.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Van Buren are operated by VAN BUREN R-I.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1. 5.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Van Buren, MO has a population of 1,125, a median household income of $22,143, and an unemployment rate of 0.3%.
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.
Van Buren averages 43.3°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.6 inches
with about 6.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Van Buren, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63965.
The population of Van Buren, Missouri is 1,125 with a median age of 40.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Van Buren: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $107,800, median household income $22,143, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Van Buren side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
