The 10 Worst Places To Live In Missouri For 2021

The 10 Worst Places To Live In Missouri For 2021

You can find jobs in Sullivan. They just might not provide enough income to make ends meet. The unemployment rate runs a respectable 5.4%. However, the town’s median income comes in at only $35,789. With these low wages, 19.2% scrape by on the wrong side of the poverty line.

Crime and housing present issues as well. The area’s crime rate tracks at more than double the U.S. norm.

Located in the east-central part of the state, Sullivan sits on I-44, about an hour outside of St. Louis. Locals have access to great outdoors activities, including the nearby Meramec State Park.

Fun fact: the area around Aurora was founded by an ancestor of Brad Pitt. In the 19th century, the area became prominent thanks to a booming mining industry. Unfortunately, the economy has turned sour in the 21st century. High unemployment and low wages earn the town the title of number 2 worst location in Missouri.

You’ll have trouble finding a good-paying job in Aurora. The unemployment rate sits at 9.6% and the median income tracks at $38,750. Aurora has other issues as well. The crime rate runs 120% above the U.S. norm. In addition, the area struggles with housing, diversity, and education.

This town in the southwestern part of Missouri has its charms. For instance, locals can check out Baldwin Park.

Built along the Mississippi River, across the water from Tennessee, Caruthersville is famous for two main reasons. First, the town hosted an early iteration of the “steel cage” professional wrestling match in 1936. Second, the community provides a crucial transportation spot: I-155 runs through town, toward the only bridge across the Mississippi for the more than 150 miles between Cairo, Illinois, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Unfortunately, neither of these distinctions provides a significant boost to the town’s economy. The median income sits at $31,322 and the unemployment rate stands at 9.9%.

Caruthersville also suffers a major safety problem, with a crime rate more than 110% above the national standard. In addition, the 5,616 residents struggle with housing issues and weak schools.

Welcome to Jennings, where criminals go to make a living. Jennings has the 12th highest crime rate in the state. When you’re within Jennings city limits, you have a 1 in 0.0 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as a car break in or home invasion robbery every year.

Plus, there were 80 violent crimes here in 2021. For a city of 14,712 people, that’s absolutely off the charts high. You have a 1 in 0 chance of being raped, attacked or killed when you’re in Jennings every year as well.

Jennings is a northern suburb of St. Louis.

A suburb of St. Louis, located about 20 minutes north west of the city, Dellwood faces a number of problems. A shaky economy and a substandard educational system make this one of the worst places to live in all of Missouri.

Unlike many places on this list, the economic situation in Dellwood is far from dire. Still, the 5,013 residents of the town struggle to earn a living. The 6.9% unemployment rate and $47,959 median income leave 18.2% of the population below the poverty line.

Still, the town provides significant amenities. From shopping to parks to the Dellwood Recreation Center, locals can find plenty to do in their spare time.

Osage Beach has had its 15 minutes of TV fame. The town provides the setting for the Netflix show Ozark. Located along the Lake of the Ozarks, residents have a host of water activities to choose from.

So filling your free time isn’t a problem in Osage Beach. But getting your professional life started – that’s the main problem. A weak economy makes this one of the least hospitable places in Missouri to put down roots.

The region’s unemployment rate hangs at 7.5%. The median income comes in at $39,137. As a result, Osage Beach suffers a poverty rate of 28.6%.
Meanwhile, tourism drives up property values in the area, meaning locals struggle to afford the $240,000 median home price. Adding to Osage Beach’s struggles, the crime rate runs 170% above the national average.

Bridgeton went through a major expansion in the middle of the 20th century, expanding in population by over 3,000% from 1950 to 1960. However, the current population of 11,606 faces significant challenges. This suburb of St. Louis ranks as the number 7 least impressive hometown in Missouri.

Bucking the trend of other cities on this list, Bridgeton doesn’t suffer a backbreaking economy. The median income stands at $59,940 and the unemployment rate hovers at 5.7%. At the same time, the crime rate more than 150% above the national average. There is room for improvement in the areas of education and affordability as well.

Built on the Missouri River (hence the name Bridgeton), the area offers a number of scenic parks.

A suburb of St. Louis, Berkeley sits about 20 minutes from the city center. It also contains part of theSt. Louis Lambert International Airport. Even with these key economic advantages, the 8,927 residents of Berkeley struggle, leaving the area at number 8 on the list of Missouri’s worst hometowns.

Jobs are scarce in Berkeley. The unemployment rate stands at 10.5%. In addition, wages in the area are low, with a median income of $33,185. Crime, education, and housing are concerns as well.

There are benefits to life in Berkeley. The aerospace company Boeing has a large presence in town (its by an airport, after all).

The tiny city of Charleston is the 9th worst place you can live in the state of Missouri in 2021.

It’s unlucky for Charleston, which has the highest unemployment rate (14.7%), the 2nd lowest household incomes ($30,573) and the 6th lowest home prices in the state ($72,400).

Basically, a lot of people in Charleston are out of work, and nearly 1 in 4 people who live here are below the poverty line. And crime is certainly a factor here as well. Although it’s not one of the most dangerous places we’ll look at, it’s in the top 20%.

Finally, the kids who live in Charleston get not only the lowest support in the state, in terms of spending levels, but some of the lowest in the nation. The national average for spending per pupil is $14,000. In Charleston, it’s half that. Wow.

Add it all up, and this is truly one of the worst places you could live in Missouri. Charleston is in the far southeast corner of the state.

Poplar Bluff might be a pretty place, as it’s tucked down on Route 60 in the Ozark region of the state. However, the fact remains, living here is tough. Residents average poverty level incomes every year, and crime is the 9th highest in the state. That might be a surprise for a small area so far removed for major cities.

Would you want to live in a mountainous area where people are broke and stealing from one another?