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Knox
Missouri

4K

Population

$49K

Median Income

$194K

Median Home

R+63

Politics

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What stands out

What stands out about Knox County: the overdose death rate is among the lowest in America (-999 per 100,000), the share working from home is in the top 2% of American counties (20%), and homeownership is in the top 3% of American counties (85%). Within Missouri it ranks 9th of 115 counties for the overdose death rate, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Knox County, Missouri. 3,772 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 1.4% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -39).

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 $49,167 a year, lower than 81% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $41,462. Unemployment runs 2.6%, lower than 80% of American counties. 20% of workers work from home.

Missouri takes 4.3% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,130 a year.

Home

The median home costs $199K, cheaper than 63% of American counties, about 1.3 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $709 a month. Property tax is 0.88% of home value, roughly $787 a year on that median home, higher than 52% of American counties. 85% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.6 per 1,000 residents, higher than 85% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 75.7 years, shorter than 52% of American counties. There is 1 active physician in the county, about 2.7 per 10,000 people. 18.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.88 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 55% of American counties. 85% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 63 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 62% 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 53°F, highs near 64 and lows near 42, colder than 61% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 16 out of 100, safer than 84% of American counties; the county has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 69 Mbps down, slower than 95% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$49K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate15.6%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate2.6%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$47,221
Federal Spending per Capita$1,618
Median Individual Earnings$29K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers23.7%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$45K
Avg Credit Score693
Work From Home %20.0%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1823.8%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households34.9%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Income (20th Percentile)$18K
Income (80th Percentile)$98K
Income (95th Percentile)$147K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher16.0%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School14.8%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %1.7%
Dependency Ratio0.80
Medicare Spending / Person$3,896
SS Benefits / Person$4,060
Education Wage Premium1.33x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$36K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$38K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$29K
Public Assistance Recipients0.7%
Average Annual Wage$41K
Federal Government Jobs Located Here27
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here3.1%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government2.9%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings2.5%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$128,398
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.00x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars58%
Oil and Gas Share of Earnings (incl. proprietors)0.0%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$194K
This county
$240K state avg
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$639/mo
This county
$1100/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.88%
This county
0.88% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $787

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$888/mo
Home Value to Income Ratio1.3x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households8.7%
Homeownership Rate85.0%
This county
national avg ~65%
Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage
233 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)— Low inventory — sellers market
2.0 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
0.0%
Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)— Buyers market — homes selling below list
89.3%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy75.7 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Food Insecurity11.1%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index7.7 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score18
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score17
Dental Care Shortage Score8
Healthcare Shortage Score14.3
Healthcare Offices3
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)39.8%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)22.2%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)24.8%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)33.0%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)35.1%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians1
Nursing Home Rating1.0 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients562 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$12,425
Uninsured (under 65)18.8%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression26.9%

Education

Math Test Scores2.96 grade level
Reading Test Scores2.79 grade level
HS Diploma Holders905
Bachelor's Degree Holders244
HS Completion Rate85.2%
This county
national avg ~85%

Safety

Violent Crime Rate4.6 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Traffic Fatalities1
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)27th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)-999.0 / 100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale-1.5
January Sunshine0.20
January Temperature-0.78
Average Temp53°F+3.7% since 2022
Avg High Temp64°F+2.9% since 2022
Avg Low Temp42°F+5.0% since 2022
Annual Precipitation31.2 in/yr-7.7% since 2022
Avg Storm Events1.8 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$0
Drought Index (2022)-0.20
Heating Degree Days5,453 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,188 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)5,994 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,094 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.2
Avg Flood Events / Year0.4
Avg Hail Events / Year0.6
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)16 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)37 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations26 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)7.4 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)2 properties
FAA-Registered Airports3 total
Airports (excl. heliports)3 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed69 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed19 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)308 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)365 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)45 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)38 ms
Households with 100Mbps+37.6%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet15.8%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)212 Mbps

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers326 workers
Public Transit Commuters17 workers
Walk to Work (workers)51 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)23 workers
Walk to Work3.1%

Agriculture

Farms118 farms
Farmland7,189 acres

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden23.2%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers16.4 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout62.1%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)5.553
Nonprofit Organizations55
Veterans Share9.3%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults47.0%
Never-Married Adults34.0%
Divorced Adults12.3%
Religious Organizations5
Asian Population1.9%
Native American Population0.2%
Membership Associations13.1 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Professional Services Firms4
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$61K
Avg Student Loan Balance$7K
Avg Credit Card Balance$5K
Loan Delinquency Rate37.0%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.20%

Politics

R+63

2024 Presidential · Missouri was R+19 statewide

vs Missouri State

Income tax
4.7%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.88%0.88% state avg
Politics
R+63R+19
COL Index
86state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↓ -39

More people leaving than arriving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.93x avg income)

Economic Mobility

49%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Knox County

Median home value: $199K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Missouri profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

View Missouri →

Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable