Help me find an inexpensive, rural MO town (Kansas City, St. Louis: theater, school)

[mommagonenutz]

I grew up in north central Missouri and loved it!! Trenton has a lot of older nice homes and is very rural and has the Amish that live in Jamesport which is 15 min from there. Homes are cheap up there too. but the closer to the city you get the more they cost. I have also lived southeast of kc around Garden city Urich area and people and the life is great down there. I know of a place that is just outside of Garden city (1.5 hrs most) that has big old house, guest living area barn workshop huge garden area and fenced in yard on a few archers for 250,000 but they might take less for it now

[c3bunny]

Wow, good to know about Polk County. We wondered about moving to such a small town like Pleasant Hope. My husband and I almost bought a house there, good thing we didn't. We found a house in Webster county in Marshfield. We felt that the people there were friendly and it seems like a good town to raise kids.

[Shakoto]

La Russell Missouri--not even really a town--quiet, country--green forest and green fields and nothing but peace, quiet and critters!

[roman0886]

Just to throw in my $.02, I'd suggest looking around in West-Central MO, specifically Warsaw, Sedalia, Clinton, or Warrensburg. All of these cities are within a 1-1 1/2 hour drive of Kansas City, Columbia/Jeff City, and Springfield. Homes are relatively cheap in the area and there is a decent amount of well-paying jobs (particularly in Sedalia and Warrensburg, since they are both college towns). Clinton, Sedalia, and Warrensburg have a fair amount of amenities due to their size. Warsaw is pretty much rural, but it sits on the Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake, so you get great scenery and plenty of outdoor recreation. Also, it has some pretty great schools (I'm a WHS graduate) and the basic necessities (24 hour Wal-Mart, two clinics with ERs, bowling alley, and a movie theater). If you're looking further south, I live in Springfield now, and I'd definitely recommend some of the outer suburbs--Nixa, Ozark, Willard--to settle down in as well.

[GraniteStater]

Plattsburg, MO!
You can have all of the benefits that a small town offers while not being too far away from St. Joseph or the KC metro.

[mamagator54]

We live just outside of Ava. We love the quiet rural lifestyle. Ava has a grocery store as well as a Super Wal-mart. There is Cooper Lumber/hardware as well as a small hardware store. If you do a google search on Ava you will find lots of info on organizations, events (there are lots of festivals, craft fairs, etc. all summer long) The farmer's market on the square is a nice place to go on Sat. mornings in the spring and summer. And Springfield is only about 60 miles away so it's easy to find whatever kind of store you are looking for.

[whereintheworld]

Some people may think Benton County has beautiful scenery, but that is about it. Warsaw, Lincoln, Cole Camp are the towns in this county. People say they are neighborly and friendly but I actually have never seen more busy bodies in my life. They smile and greet you warmly, then the minute you turn around they talk about you and everyone else they can think of. Very nasty people (they are also the ones in church every Sunday on the front row). As far as employment and income, it is horrible. Walmart in Warsaw is the largest employer and we all know how they pay. The schools would probably be second. Some decent teachers and not so decent in Warsaw. Anymore they seem to tend to put it on a projector and tell the kids to work, instead of teach them. If you retire to the area, can afford a $150,000 to $200,000 home and really just enjoy the lake, you may like it! If you have children, it will be tough here!

[sunshineann]

IMO, for a retired couple you may look at Tightwad area, its between Clinton and Warsaw. Its by the lake, and alot and i mean ALOT of retired people live here. I know of a few homes up for sale and possible going up for sale.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by whereintheworld

Some people may think Benton County has beautiful scenery, but that is about it. Warsaw, Lincoln, Cole Camp are the towns in this county. People say they are neighborly and friendly but I actually have never seen more busy bodies in my life. They smile and greet you warmly, then the minute you turn around they talk about you and everyone else they can think of. Very nasty people (they are also the ones in church every Sunday on the front row). As far as employment and income, it is horrible. Walmart in Warsaw is the largest employer and we all know how they pay. The schools would probably be second. Some decent teachers and not so decent in Warsaw. Anymore they seem to tend to put it on a projector and tell the kids to work, instead of teach them. If you retire to the area, can afford a $150,000 to $200,000 home and really just enjoy the lake, you may like it! If you have children, it will be tough here!

Another one post wonder, I see. Congratulations, you just pretty much described any small town in the US from a pessamists point of view.

[northbayeric]

Originally Posted by kshe95girl

Another one post wonder, I see. Congratulations, you just pretty much described any small town in the US from a pessamists point of view.

Agreed! Since these busybodies at least are in church, there's the chance that they'll come across God's commandment to not bear false witness against their neighbor, go "whoops!", do a 180 and stop their gossiping.

I would just observe as well that the OP is now a distinguished City-Data moderator and has (at least I think!) found a great place to live in the metro KC area!