Moving to Missouri

Missouri, otherwise known as ‘The Show Me State’, is a fabulous state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to MO, we have composed a detailed list of some important facts and useful tidbits to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the West North Central Region of the country, Missouri is bordered by Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee. With a total land area of over 69,704.31 Square Miles, it comes in as the 21st largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of MO is 6,093,000 making it the 18th most populated state in the union and the 22nd least densely populated. The state capital, Jefferson City, has a population of 39636. which is the 8th smallest capital in the country.

Notable Missourians

Missouri is home to numerous famous and some infamous people such as, Robert Altman a notable film director is from Kansas City and Burt Bacharach a memorable songwriter is from Kansas City. Others include people like Josephine Baker a singer dancer and Wallace Beery a actor .

Climate

Missouri’s location in the interior of the North American continent exposes it to a climate with large ranges in temperature with hot, humid summers and cold winters. The lack of mountain barriers both to the north and to the south, and the state’s inland location away from the moderating effects of the oceans, allow it to be influenced by both cold Arctic air masses and warm, moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico. Average annual temperatures across the state vary over a range of about 10°F from north to south. The year 2012 was the hottest on record, with an average annual temperature of 58.6°F, 4.1°F higher than the long-term average.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, temperatures in Missouri have risen approximately 0.5°F and temperatures in the 2000s have been higher than any other historical period with the exception of the early 1930s Dust Bowl era. This warming has been concentrated in the winter and spring while average summer temperatures have not increased substantially in the state until the most recent 5 years, a feature characteristic of much of the Midwest. Due to extreme drought and poor land management practices, the summers of the 1930s remain the warmest on record. The recent summer warming has been characterized by much warmer nights while daytime highs have only increased a little. The state has also experienced a below average occurrence of extremely hot days. In addition to the overall trend of higher average temperatures, the state has experienced an above average number of very warm nights. Since 1950, the annual number of these very warm nights has increased by about 2 days per decade at St. Louis Lambert Airport. Also, there is an upward trend in summer humidity since the mid-20th Century. The winter warming trend is reflected in a below average number of very cold nights over the past 25 years.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important consideration when relocating to a new area. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its citizens, it highly affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Missouri’s violent crime rate is 44 per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 290per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.

Missouri ranks #12 in the US for violent crime and #17 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Missouri’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C-

Missouri spends on average $11226.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). MO ranks #30 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While MO ranks #30 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 87.80%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Missouri ranks #26 with over 44.60% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Missouri is 7.00% which ranks 35th favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. MO’s rate is $23.84 which ranks 11th in the US.

Currently, MO sales tax is $22.78 for which it comes in as 25th compared to other states.

Sports

Missouri fans are not only passionate but also very tried-and-true to their local major league teams. Missouri is home to the following teams: the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, the St. Louis Blues, and the St. Louis Cardinals .

Utility Companies

Before you move to Missouri, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in MO.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Missouri, visit their website at http://www.mo.gov/