Think You Know Missouri’s 10 Best Places to Live? Think Again

Despite what the national media would have you believe, Missouri has some great places to call home including a wide variety of options. That being said, I predict this new list of the 10 best locations in the state will truly surprise many.

I decided to come up with my own search asking the robots for assistance in breaking down the 10 best places to live in Missouri right now. What I've learned opened my eyes a bit about why parts of Missouri are a better option than you might think.

10 - O'Fallon, Missouri

O'Fallon might be the most underrated part of the St. Louis area. Relatively low crime rates, affordable housing compared to nearby suburbs and a very family-friendly community.

9 - Town and Country, Missouri

I don't personally agree with this one simply because Town and Country is really only an option to live in if you are a millionaire and that's not an exaggeration. If someone like me walked through Town and Country, the security dogs would be unleashed on me (and probably rightly so).

8 - Blue Springs, Missouri

How many places in the Kansas City area can be described as quiet? Blue Springs can. Easy access to all the fun Kansas City things to do (go Chiefs!) and a great school system.

7 - Wildwood, Missouri

This was a pleasant surprise. Wildwood is the one part of the St. Louis area that really feels rustic. The fact that Nelly once owned an infamous mansion there is an added bonus.

6 - Clayton, Missouri

Another surprise. When I think of Clayton, I think of office buildings, but that's really not fair. The plus side is that it is a part of the St. Louis area that is a great location for professionals who work in the area that don't want to deal with a long commute.

5 - Lee's Summit, Missouri

When I think of Lee's Summit, I think of their school system and that's a compliment. It's also frequently mentioned as one of the safest cities in Missouri, too.

4 - Springfield, Missouri

This was the real shocker to me. Don't misunderstand. I actually considered moving to Springfield at one point in my life, but the crime rate there is really disturbing. The fact is that some areas are worse than others, but there really are good options and southwestern Missouri rocks (in a good way). Just don't look up all the episodes of Cops filmed in Springfield and you'll be fine.

3 - Kirkwood, Missouri

Not many parts of St. Louis can be described as "cute" so that's something that Kirkwood has going for it. A walkable downtown area is also a positive.

2 - Columbia, Missouri

This is a real underdog pick and I agree that Columbia is one of the most underrated parts of Missouri. Tons of shopping options, Mizzou and you're an equal distance away from St. Louis and Kansas City if you really want big city adventures.

1. Chesterfield, Missouri

The most trendy place in Missouri would arguably be Chesterfield. In the 1980's, it was THE shopping place in the St. Louis area. Now, it's the suburb that is growing fast for other reasons. Number one place to live in Missouri? Probably so if you can afford it.