Good Town for Single Mom w/ Teens (Springfield, Columbia: fit in, mortgages)

[RogueMom]

Are there any towns in Missouri that would seem to be better geared towards a single mother with two teenagers in tow? I am a manager with a major retailor (which means my salary is pretty darn modest, but I have excellent credit and have carried several mortgages) who could transfer to Missouri, and both my kids are very musical and smart, and my oldest will need a good community college/trade school when she graduates next year. Montana is pretty but there is not enough to do here, and we lived in North Carolina where we have family for awhile, but single working mothers are definitely not the accepted norm there. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Pirateman]

Hannibal Mo is a great little town/city with a population of around 17,700
www.hanmo.com
www.hannibal.k12.mo.us
it is a tourist town it sits on the banks of the mississipi river Mark Twain lived and wrote here. titanics molly brown lived here and we have had a cauple of movie actors from here i love this town/city
im 17 and i will say there isnt much for teens to do here but Quincy IL guessing about 20-30 miles away has a mall and lots of stuff to do.

[Pirateman]

go to best place to live in MO to see more pics of Hannibal

[Carlidin]

Hi! Lots of single moms in my small town New Franklin, Mo., Boonville is across the river and there are many single moms there too. Doesn't seem to be an issue here. My town New Franklin has 1,100 people. Excellent school with good music program but probably not as extensive as Boonville. For the really big music program you would probably need to go to Columbia, Population 75,000 which is just 23 miles from my hometown. But if you want good safe schools for you teens then the smaller towns would certainly be better. This are several two years colleges close by (Sedalia/Moberly). Our school has a A+ program in which if you take part in the program (tutoring so many hours) then you get your tuition to the community college paid for completely. My niece and daughter-in-law both took advantage of this program.
If you would like more information I would be glad to help you. I am a new realtor (in addition to working at the University of Missouri for 29 years) and love helping people out.

[mogirl90]

Mexico Missouri is near Columbia. I'm 17, and it's a pretty ok place. There's a lot of job opportunities, for both them and you. If they run out of things to do, Columbia is only 30 minutes away. The school system is going through some changes, but it's pretty decent.

[kareybear]

I would say to have your son in Columbia College...Heard it is the best in Missouri and There are plenty of things to do in this town. You can live out in the country and drive in for your usually play. I also heard they have excellent schools in Columbia meaning elementary, middle and high school. You can also travel to Kansas city for more urban area as well. But I really think you will like Columbia. Hope this help some. Good Luck

[Lake Junkie]

I'd probably recommend checking out Springfield.
It's a large enough place to have all the "things to do" and shopping and the 5 universities keep it young & hoppin.
And it's small enough to have thus far avoided the worst features of any big city...I lived there on & off for 8 years 'til I moved down to the lake () south of there...

Check it out:
Springfield, Missouri - Official Visitor Information (http://www.springfieldmo.org/final/ - broken link)

My daughter just graduated from the state U there:
Missouri State University

Lots of great stuff for teens AND adults:
It's All Downtown - Springfield MO

And...yr not too far from THE LAKE!

[teachcal]

I live in Columbia. Best public schools in the state. Low cost of living. University town (U of MO is here) so more eclectic. Outsiders fit in well here.
Hickman High is outstanding. Tops in state for National Merit Scholars. Outstanding music program too. Don't know much about Springfield. Good luck.
Email me if more questions.

Theresa

[rccaldwell]

columbia has good schools as has been stated previously. they have been good for years, i graduated from hickman in 1992 and it was nationally recognized before then. there good music programs in most of the schools, and many band festivals/contests for the band to compete in. it is a progressive town with a few colleges so the single mom thing won't get a second thought. the town has grown in good ways in the last 10 years, so i would recommend columbia hands down. i need to stop doing this because every one will be moving there. but it is better than the big city, unless you want over a million people breathing down your neck.

[mom-from-missouri]

Warrensburg MO. There is a college there, lots to do, only an hour from KC. Schools are decent. Vo-tech school is wonderful.