Missourians think Missouri is a good place to live!
A majority of Missourians would recommend the state as a place to live.
What we learned
Data Highlights
Highlights from our in-depth research
Missourians continue to feel positive, overall, about life in their community – with many perceiving it as safe, quiet, welcoming, close-knit, and a good place to raise kids.
- 97% Most Missourians value good jobs with benefits and growth opportunities
- $$$ Rising living and health care costs remain the state's biggest problems
- 1/10 Few Missourians feel they can influence community leader decisions
Learn about how urban and rural communities feel about Missouri.
View data story
I think of freedom as being able to wake up in the morning and be able to afford the American Dream. You have plenty of food in your fridge, you don’t have to stress about that, you don’t have to stress about having gas in your car, you don’t have to stress about paying your rent. All your bills are on auto pay, you don’t even have to blink about that. And you’ve already got your cruise planned for this summer with the family so you’re not stressing about that. Just basically having enough money to live what the American Dream is supposed to be.
Recorded April 8, 2025 - 5:45 PM
Joplin, Missouri - Women
Being a part of a community is, to me, different than just living somewhere. Being a part of a community where you’re able to know each other, have some supports, maybe know your neighbors, have some local businesses that you frequent or that they know you, having, maybe, some groups that you’re a part of or that you participate in, to me, that becomes your community.
Recorded April 15, 2025 - 5:45 PM
Online - Women, Central/Northeastern Missouri
Our community is neighbors helping neighbors.
Recorded April 8, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Joplin, Missouri - Men
It might just be me, but I feel like I belong anywhere I decide to go and can’t nobody stop me from being there. I don’t have to take my way in, just go. You can go anywhere in this world that you want to go, and you can feel like you want to belong there. It’s not up to nobody else.
Recorded April 14, 2025 - 5:45 PM
Online - Communities of Color/Mixed Gender, Southeastern Missouri
The place I live in, we've had the same people live around here for a long time. And it gives you more of a sense of belonging. You know that if you need something, they have your back. And that is a good feeling.
Recorded April 15, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Online - Men, Central/Northeastern Missouri
I think we all need to feel that we’re needed in whatever community we’re in.
Recorded April 15, 2025 - 5:45 PM
Online - Women, Central/Northeastern Missouri
You just need some camaraderie or some friendship. But it’s hard to be alone out here.
Recorded April 9, 2025 - 5:45 PM
St. Louis, Missouri - Mixed Gender
I think having good jobs is such a critical thing to a healthy community because that prosperity enables so many of the other things. If you have good jobs, people can afford houses, people can afford health care, better food.
Recorded April 8, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Joplin, Missouri - Men
I absolutely think that financial security contributes to physical health because of anxiety and stress. You just can rest at night if you don’t have this massive, ‘Where is this going to come from? What am I going to do?
Recorded April 14, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Online - White, Southeastern Missouri
Everyone is a human being regardless of if you’ve made a bad choice that’s put you in a bad health situation or not. You still deserve the same kind of treatment that somebody that never made those choices gets.
Recorded April 14, 2025 - 8:00 PM
Online - White, Southeastern Missouri
These quotes are from focus groups conducted online or in-person at various locations across the state. In order to protect participants confidentiality, we are sharing only the location and composition of the focus group.
Data Stories
A sense of belonging
Most Missourians report a feeling of belonging in their community – but some subgroups, notably Latinos and LGBTQ+ Missourians, feel that way at much lower rates.
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