Want to move from Alaska to Missouri (St. Louis, Springfield: crime, house)

[KasilofJen]

Hello everyone!!

I haved lived in Alaska for the last 14 years and I am thinking about moving to Missouri. I want to move, because we have 3 small children and all of our family lives in the lower 48. I lived in Branson for a little while after high school, but really don't want to live there again..even though it was pretty. I am thinking about Missoui because it appears to be pretty rural. My husband is retired, but I am still working (there is a large age difference). What are are your thoughts? Any ideas?
What are the schools like? I am thinking about southeast Missoui. I want to move closer to family but still be a days drive away. haha Any input would be appreciated.

[DocGSD]

I personally like the Joplin area. Joplin Schools were rated above the state average on MAP Test scores this past year as well as several years before. Other good schools in this area are Carl Junction, Neosho, Carthage and Webb City. Joplin city limits touch the state of Oklahoma and Kansas. It is about 40 minutes from Arkansas. Shopping and eats here are a plus. You will find most of the same stores here as in larger cities. If you want to visit larger cities, Springfield is 1 hour, Tulsa - 2 hrs, KC - 2.5 hrs and St.Louis is about 5. THis is a pretty area with a strong local economy. Good luck on your search!
Many other people on this forum like the Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Willard area. That may be too close to Branson for you?!?

[Cali BassMan]

Southeast vs southwest Missouri?? Pretty different, you might want to visit first...

[Versatile]

We here that there is a very large meth problem in many SE Mo towns.

[DocGSD]

There is a meth problem everywhere to some degree. I dont have the numbers here with me but, in 2007 meth arrests were down a great deal in Missouri. I believe it was from the state Uniform Crime Report. I think it is basically because the state government has limited the number of items you can purchase to make meth. I have been here 4 years and never had a real problem. There are dopers in every community.

[wishiwasuber]

I have been all over the state and live in Joplin. The south east is nice but unless your in the boot heel your not going to find lots of rural communities. A good area for rural would be Barton County. Lots of nice small towns and farms. Towns like Golden City with a population of just over a thousand are nice laid back towns (Golden City has a resturaunt called Cookies with the best pies and the world). If you want something a little bigger you could try Lamar with a population of about 7000 people and it has a wal-mart.

And your in luck, if your from Alaska you should be used to the 6-7 inches of ice we get in the winter, hardley ever snow. The last two years weve had major ice storms both knocked out most of the power in my town of 45,000

Or you could try Joplin with a population of about 45,000. This is where I live and although i dont think that i would want to live in a town any bigger it still has rural areas outside of town such as Deuqusne with about 1200 people it shares schools with Joplin which is a plus scince you have kids. I notice some one mention this earlier and i would have to agree

If your not looking for education as much as sports i would recomend Webb City but thats the only good thing I have to say about it.

[ajf131]

Southeast Missouri to my knowledge is far more impoverished and rural than Southwest Missouri, and from my visits to the areas, Southwest Missouri is far more interesting land-scape wise and culture wise than Southeast Missouri. I would live in Southwest Missouri way before Southeast Missouri.

[befigard]

I live bout 35 minute drive from Springfield..it is ABSOLUTELY beautiful....the summer landscape is the prettiest I've ever seen, and I have lived all over this country. The scenery can't not compare to most parts of the country in my opinion. The land for the most part is fertile, well cared for....comprized of freindly people...who are usually pretty down to earth, friendly and, if you are into rural country living, in small town mentality...(which is a GREAT THING for me...I love it).......then you would want to consider SW MO. Rolling hills....lush and green. People who genuinely care.AFFORDABLE living.....clean air, no crime. WHat more could one want.......

Wanna buy a house and land ???? (yeah I know cheap plug to sell,...but I NEED to sell ASAP)

[sillymom]

How about Lake of the Ozarks? It is inexpensive and beautiful! There are cute little towns all around the lake. The lake is the playground of the midwest in the summer. I think if you go to Missouri Vacation Guide - Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - Vacation Travel Guide it is all about that area. I hope I am giving you the correct link, if not, I am so sorry, but it is something like that. Good luck in your search! I am in the suburbs of St.Louis and love it, but I think you are looking at even more rural areas. I really do like southern Missouri though, I do think the people are friendlier and more down to earth, not to mention inexpensive.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

The 3 poorest counties in Missouri are in Southeast Missouri. Also, there's no town in Southeast Missouri as big as Springfield, but Cape Girardeau is probably the biggest at about 35,000. I prefer living closer to St. Louis as I'm a Cardinals and Blues fan, and I love the city of St. Louis in general.

I have friends who live in Springfield. They seem to like it okay. I love the hills out that direction.

And Missouri has a really big meth problem, but I think it's all over the state.

As far as topography, southern Missouri has a lot of hills. The Missouri bootheel is flat, but where I live in southeast Missouri we're right on the line of the ozarks start. We also go to Lake of the Ozarks almost every year and St. Louis a few times a year.

Really I like where I live just fine. It would be nice to live in a bigger town, though. But there are some towns of about 15,000-18,000 around here. And parts of the landscape are really beautiful. Not everything is flat. Driving from here to Piedmont you'll see hills as well as corn fields. Sikeston's pretty flat, and they grow cotton almost in town.