Thinking of Moving to Missouri in 2025? Read This

I will admit that I'm not an expert in much, but this is a subject that I have decades of experience with. If you're thinking of moving to and living in Missouri, I can help you out. I was born and raised in the Show Me State and have moved away and to Missouri multiple times. There are some vital facts you need to know.

Without boring you with my full backstory, I was born in Missouri a long time ago. I won't give you the exact number of years, but this should give you a good idea. My kids were looking at my childhood pictures and asked me what it was like to grow up when the world was black and white. That seriously happened. Translation? I know a thing or two about what life is like in Missouri. Let's get started with some things you need to understand before moving here.

Summers are hot and the humidity can be a terror especially if you live near the Mississippi or Missouri River

As I write this, Missouri is on the cusp of a dreadful heat wave. We call that heat wave July and August and that's typical for the state. Once June arrives, you need to have a plethora of lightweight garments you're comfortable in because the thermometer in Missouri gets an attitude for the 3 middle months of the year.

Mosquitos grow to be as big as bears in Missouri

That's a slight exaggeration. I should have said mosquitos grow to be as big as small dogs. Make sure you have plenty of shirts that are either white, green, blue or purple as those colors are less attractive to mosquitos. This is seriously a thing here. This is a problem in Missouri since the state is packed with Chiefs and Cardinals fans whose primary colors are red which is a mosquito target color.

You can actually have a chance to buy a home in Missouri and afford it

Home ownership is more of a possibility in Missouri than it is in other states. Bankrate says Missouri's median home price is 73.8% lower than other states. Pro Tip - If you have the chance, get a home in a rural area instead of a big city as there are single family direct housing loans that will help you out.

You'll pay less for vital day-to-day stuff in Missouri than other states

While I was born in Missouri, I have lived and worked in western states for several years and I can tell you for a fact that it costs WAY less to buy groceries and do everyday things here than it does other places. Missouri is known for having some of the lowest gas prices in America, too.

Missouri has a unique food culture on both extremes of the state

Want the best BBQ in America? You've got Kansas City on the western part of Missouri. Think toasted ravioli would be tasty? St. Louis has you covered. There's also the underrated Ozarks food which Branson specializes in. Foodies will love it here, plus we can sneak over the Illinois border for Chicago-style pizza, too.

Missouri does have earthquakes, but they're not a big problem - yet

Here's the good news and the bad news. Missouri is home to the most seismically-active fault in America - the New Madrid Fault. The good news is nearly all of the quakes are extremely minor and barely felt. The bad news is it will probably ruin all of our lives someday.

Missouri is family-friendly, but we're also very snarky here

I have yet to visit a Missouri community where complete strangers won't say hello if you make eye contact with them. I also know that many of these Missouri communities will be happy to give you a hard time so don't take it personal. We kid around because we care here. Well, we mostly care sometimes.

You can easily have a radically cool vacation without leaving Missouri

Missouri is a diverse place. I grew up in northeast Missouri, but my family took amazing vacations to southwestern Missouri often. Lake of the Ozarks area is epic, too, as long as you don't go over the Memorial Day weekend as it's way too overcrowded then. You also have the metro areas of St. Louis and Kansas City if you get in the mood to do city things or see a major concert.

Most of Missouri and even the big cities are safer than you've probably heard

The national media loves to talk about St. Louis and parts of Kansas City being "the murder capital" or "Killa City". Yes, pockets in the big cities are dangerous, but the suburban parts of Kansas City and St. Louis often rank among the best places to live in America. The smaller Missouri towns are like the Andy Griffith Show most of the time. When my family moved back to Missouri a few years ago, we had multiple neighbors knock on our door to say hello and brought us food. I'm a big fan of kind people baking for us. It's a Missouri thing.

You need to ride your bike on the Katy Trail sometime

Missouri is home to one of the best bike trails in America. Ride all or part of the Katy Trail sometime and thank me later.

Fear the water of the Mississippi River

I love the Mississippi River. I drive over it every single day. It's a beautiful waterway, but if someone offers you a drink of water from the Mississippi or Missouri River, they're trying to kill you. Seriously. Run away quickly.

Missouri is one of the best places to move to in America

No, I do not work for a chamber of commerce in Missouri. The state does have its challenges and downfalls, but it's also one of the best middle ground destinations. You are a day's drive from the Great Lakes and the Gulf Coast states. To reach mountains, you only have to endure Kansas for about 6 hours. Missouri has 4 distinct seasons and geographically offers nearly every type of terrain you can imagine. Some people in the Ozarks really believe they live in the mountains. Those like me that have been to Colorado know different. There are incredible river towns. Missouri is wildly underrated and many people are discovering that. Come on over. You'll like it here.