Lifestyle

10 Best Cities to Retire in Missouri in 2024

Missouri has plenty to offer retirees, including beautiful mountains and lakes, thriving communities, and a relatively low cost of living. But Missouri is made up of a combination of small, rural towns and large metropolitan areas, as well as a variety of cities in between. Choosing the right area for your retirement can make all the difference, and this guide can help.

Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris

Published February 18th, 2022

Updated December 8th, 2022

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Overall, Missouri has a lower cost of living than other states, making it easy to find an affordable lifestyle.

The state offers partial tax breaks on Social Security and pensions, which is better than some states but not as good as others.

The state is packed with diverse living options, including large cities, small towns, and suburban communities.

Missouri has plenty to offer retirees, including beautiful mountains and lakes, thriving communities, and a relatively low cost of living. Seniors do get a modest tax break on Social Security and pensions, but you’ll still pay some taxes. Still, while other states offer better tax benefits, the lower cost of living can make up for that.

Is Missouri a good place to retire? Overall, there are plenty of reasons to consider the state. But Missouri is made up of a combination of small, rural towns and large metropolitan areas, as well as a variety of cities in between. Choosing the right area for your retirement can make all the difference, and this guide can help.

Lee’s Summit

CITY POPULATION: 99,357

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 15.3%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: Even with the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $42,542

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

If you’re looking for a 55-plus neighborhood, Lee’s Summit has the best retirement communities Missouri offers. This suburb of Kansas City has plenty to offer on its own, including great healthcare at Lee’s Summit Medical Center and recreational activities at Longview Lake.

Jefferson City

CITY POPULATION: 42,708

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 16%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 9% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $28,073

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

Those looking for waterfront retirement should consider the state capital, Jefferson City, which is one of the best lake towns in Missouri. The downtown area gives this city a small-town charm while also offering you access to all the amenities of a larger city.

St. Louis

CITY POPULATION: 300,576

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 13.1%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 6% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $30,542

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

If suburban life is your preference, St. Louis could be the best city to retire in Missouri. There are numerous suburbs on the outskirts of the city for retirement, including Warson Woods and Clayton.

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Jennings

CITY POPULATION: 14,575

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 13.3%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 6% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $19,565

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

One suburb of St. Louis has a large enough population to merit a separate mention. Jennings gives you access to dining, entertainment, outdoor areas, and multiple medical centers.

Carthage

CITY POPULATION: 14,746

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 13%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 14% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $20,713

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

With a low cost of living and multiple annual festivals, Carthage can be a charming small-town option for retirement living. The town is also steeped in history, giving you plenty of interesting architecture to enjoy

Sedalia

CITY POPULATION: 21,629

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 16.3%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 15% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $22,557

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

Known as home to the Missouri State Fair and the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, Sedalia is a great small-town option for retirement. There are also museums, parades, and even a farmer’s market.

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Blue Springs

CITY POPULATION: 55,829

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 13.4%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 6% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $32,954

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

Blue Springs was rated one of the best places to retire in Missouri 2019 in several surveys, putting it on the radar of many retirees. If you’re into fishing or kayaking, you’ll love the easy access the town offers to Lake Remembrance.

Town and Country

CITY POPULATION: 11,109

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 29.5%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 35% above the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $98,343

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

This city with an interesting name gets points for its affordability. Life in this town gives you easy access to nearby St. Louis but you’ll still have all the benefits of rural life. The robust 65+ population will give you a wide range of activities and entertainment opportunities to choose from.

Creve Coeur

CITY POPULATION: 18,622

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 26.1%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 6% below the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $76,566

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

If you’re looking for a town with plenty of dining and shopping, look no further than Creve Coeur. This St. Louis area town is home to Mercy Hospital St. Louis and several other top-quality medical facilities, as well as all the dining and shops you’d expect from a suburban area.

Chesterfield

CITY POPULATION: 47,538

SHARE OF POPULATION 65+: 24.2%

COST OF LIVING FOR RETIREES: 12% above the national average

PER CAPITA INCOME FOR POPULATION: $62,430

TAX RATING FOR RETIREES: Moderately Tax Friendly

Another Missouri town with a substantial 65+ population is Chesterfield. If you like shopping, you’ll love the local Chesterfield Mall, which has shops, a pickleball court, and a 14-screen AMC movie theater.

Final Thoughts

The best places to retire in Missouri have a low cost of living and access to all the amenities you enjoy. Although Missouri is popular with retirees, it’s not for everyone. Retirable can help you come up with a plan to fit the type of retirement lifestyle you want most. We’ll ensure you’re not only well prepared, but that you also have the information you need to set a budget and stick to it after you’ve retired.

The ideal Missouri retirement starts with a plan.

Let's build your ideal retirement.
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Stephanie Faris
Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. She spent nearly a year as a writer for a credit card processing service and has written about finance for numerous marketing firms and entrepreneurs. Her work has appeared on Money Under 30, The Motley Fool, MoneyGeek, E-commerce Insiders, and GoBankingRates.

Best Places To Retire

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Northeastern U.S. Best Places To Retire


Southern U.S. Best Places To Retire


Midwestern U.S. Best Places To Retire


Western U.S. Best Cities To Retire

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Best Places To Retire

Getting Started


Northeastern U.S. Best Places To Retire


Southern U.S. Best Places To Retire


Midwestern U.S. Best Places To Retire


Western U.S. Best Cities To Retire


Share this advice


Stephanie Faris
Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. She spent nearly a year as a writer for a credit card processing service and has written about finance for numerous marketing firms and entrepreneurs. Her work has appeared on Money Under 30, The Motley Fool, MoneyGeek, E-commerce Insiders, and GoBankingRates.

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Legal

Retirable, Inc. ('Retirable') is an SEC registered investment advisor. By using this website, you accept our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Retirable provides holistic retirement planning services, which are available only to residents of the United States. You must be at least 18 years of age to become a Retirable Premium user. Nothing on this website should be considered an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities.

Investing involves risk and past performance is not indicative of future results. Increased spending increases the risk of depleting your savings and performance is not guaranteed. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any decisions based on your own personal circumstances.

For more information, see our Form ADV Part II and other disclosures.

Retirable is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Blue Ridge Bank N.A., Member FDIC. FDIC insurance is available for funds on deposit up to $250,000 through Blue Ridge Bank N.A., Member FDIC. The Retirable Visa® Debit Card is issued by Blue Ridge Bank N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 5.12% is effective as of Aug 1, 2023. This is a variable rate and may change after the account is opened. Fees could affect earnings on the account.

** Refer to the fee schedule in your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement

© 2024 Retirable Inc. All rights reserved.

We're accredited and certified by