Your life in Pettis County, Missouri

What stands out

Pettis County sits close to the middle of the country on most of what we measure: income, home prices, crime, schools, weather. The sections below place each figure against every other American county.

Where you are

You live in Pettis County, Missouri. 43,059 people live here with you. The population grew 0.3% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -32).

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 $57,581 a year, lower than 59% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $48,616. Unemployment runs 2.6%, lower than 81% of American counties. 6% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 18 minutes each way.

Missouri takes 4.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,526 a year.

Home

The median home costs $196K, cheaper than 64% of American counties, about 2.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $826 a month. Property tax is 0.81% of home value, roughly $1,213 a year on that median home, lower than 55% of American counties. 70% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.4 per 1,000 residents, higher than 78% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 10 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 75.5 years, shorter than 54% of American counties. There are 60 active physicians in the county, about 13.9 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.0 of 5 stars. 12.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.11 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 65% of American counties. 88% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 43 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 63% 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 56°F, highs near 67 and lows near 45, warmer than 51% of American counties. About 38 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 71 out of 100, riskier than 71% of American counties; the county has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 226 Mbps down, faster than 62% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

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.