Your life in Cole County, Missouri

What stands out

Against every county in America, Cole County is unusual in one way: unemployment is in the bottom 3% of American counties (2.0%). Within Missouri it ranks 4th of 115 counties for unemployment, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Cole County, Missouri. 76,890 people live here with you. The population grew 0.4% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +171).

Missouri stopped taxing Social Security and public pensions for all residents in 2024 and has been cutting its top income-tax rate toward 4.5%. Home prices are well below the national average in both Kansas City and St. Louis. The state's property tax on vehicles, paid every year, surprises new arrivals; tornado exposure is high across the state.

Money

The typical household here brings in $70,667 a year, higher than 76% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $55,952. Unemployment runs 2.0%, lower than 97% of American counties. 6% of workers work from home.

Missouri takes 4.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,141 a year.

Home

The median home costs $287K, pricier than 66% of American counties, about 2.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $760 a month. Property tax is 0.86% of home value, roughly $1,718 a year on that median home, higher than 50% of American counties. 67% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than 54% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 9 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.5 years, longer than 70% of American counties. There are 214 active physicians in the county, about 27.8 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 7.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.95 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 65% of American counties. 93% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 28 points. 68% of eligible voters turned out. Under Missouri law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 58°F, highs near 68 and lows near 47, warmer than 58% of American counties. About 34 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 75 out of 100, riskier than 75% of American counties; the county has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 198 Mbps down, slower than 51% of American counties. There are 0 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Missouri tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.