Considering a move to NE Missouri. (St. Louis, Springfield: high crime, house, to buy)

[Curmudgeon]

I'm retiring next August and thinking about moving from northern California to northeast MO, somewhere around the Hannibal area. Having lived in seven other states in the past, I miss four distinct seasons. Being in CA with its crowded and mobile population I miss a true sense of community. I won't miss ridiculously high housing prices (lost a home in divorce and can't afford to buy here now), gas and food prices or the high crime in more places. I will miss the produce but can adjust!

Any suggestions, warnings or encouragement?

Thanks!

[kcmo]

I don't think anybody moves "to" northern Missouri.

Why would you do that? For the seasons? I would look into St Louis, KC, Springfield etc.

Good luck though

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by kcmo

I don't think anybody moves "to" northern Missouri.

Why would you do that? For the seasons? I would look into St Louis, KC, Springfield etc.

Good luck though

I agree...you may be happier in the southern portion of the state. Somewhat warmer winters, MUCH nicer scenery and more things to do, and you still get the small-town lifestyle, sense of community, and low cost of housing.

[GraniteStater]

The low cost of housing would apply to most areas of Missouri. If you are looking for a smaller college town I would look into a city like Kirksville or Maryville. I would think those two towns might be better choices than Hannibal.

[Curmudgeon]

As soon as I retire we'll be heading your way for about a month to look around. We'll certainly take all advice into consideration.

Weather is really the least of our concerns in terms of severity as long as there are four distinct seasons. After all, with both of us retired we won't have to go out in it unless we want to. We keep our larder well-stocked at all times.

Small town living close enough to a metropolitan area where the various arts will be available is what we're looking for. We also like the water. Kirksville is a possibility we've looked into.

Thanks for your responses.

[rebeccamil]

I'd definitely pass on Kirksville. It's a minimum of two hours in any direction to shopping and cultural events (my in-laws live there). We live in Columbia, which is in the exact middle of the state and the home of the state university. It is a GREAT town. Other than that, I'd look at Springfield or KC/STL suburbs. NE Missouri is very rural.

[northbound74]

I figure I'd put in a good word for northern Missouri. It's easily my favorite part of the state. Very rural, peaceful, not nearly as crowded as the Ozarks. Saying the Ozarks are crowded might sound silly to city people, but it's getting to where you can't throw a rock without hitting someone's house down there. Realize that I'm a person of extremes. Either put me in a high rise downtown, or stick me in the wilderness. Even though I live in a suburb, I hate the lifestyle.
There's plenty of hills and trees in north MO, just not as tall as the hills in the southern part of the state. The areas between Kirksville and Trenton can be quite beautiful.
Another town I like a lot is Fayette, which is not far at all from Columbia. Again, nice scenery around there.

[MoNative34]

Welcome back!

People do move to northern MO and it's a fine place.

[northbayeric]

As Plains10 mentioned, Maryville would be worth looking at; it's got NW Missouri State University located there. Other than that I don't know much about the town.

I'm in northern CA too; and my wife and I want to move to St. Joseph. From what I've seen of both places, St. Joe beats Hannibal as a place to live. Other posters in the recent past have criticized Hannibal as dirty and run-down. Areas of St. Joe like the Midtown area have been the same way, but they're making an effort to improve it with a "weed and seed" program.

I was born and raised in the St. Louis area and have driven U.S. 36 from St. Joe to Hannibal. It's nice, if a bit remote. Not as forested as southern Missouri, but it's not flat either except as you approach Hannibal from 60 miles away or so. You'll make less, but practically everything else except your A/C and heating bills are going to be less as well. Best of luck; let us know if we can give you any specific assistance!

[Carlidin]

Nothing wrong with Central Missouri and you are in the middle of the state and can go either way for entertainment/arts. Columbia is a mid-sized town with lots to offer. If you want more rural go west to Boonville/New Franklin about 20 minutes to the best small towns around. Boonville is currently have their Festival of the Arts which is a week-long venue of different types of music nightly at Thespian Hall. You are also close enough to Columbia to take advantage of their many, many art offerings. Also about an hour away from the Lake of the Ozarks where you can take day trips or week-long vacations easily. The country is beautiful and we do have our four seasons.

Carolyn