Carthage 70 Excellent
Carthage Livability #128 ranked city in Missouri#7,499 ranked city in the USARanks better than 74% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Carthage

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Employment Employment

    A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Carthage?

Carthage, Missouri is a moderately-sized city with a population of 15,195 inhabitants. At 87%, the majority of the Carthage population is White; this is followed by 2% Black and 1% Asian. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Carthage are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 27% of the population also speak Spanish. If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Carthage residents is 32. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Carthage is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 16 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Carthage, Missouri could be a fulfilling experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. With useful information like amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Carthage and in the areas around Carthage is a much easier task.

The livability score in Carthage is 69 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all cities across America. If we consider each of the categories on their own, we see that Carthage ranks well for housing (A+). Unfortunately for Carthage, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), education (D-) and employment (F).

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Carthage has a violent crime rate of 174 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Carthage apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Carthage is actually affordable. The median home price for Carthage homes is $158,938, which is 36.3% lower than the Missouri average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Carthage, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 20.6% lower than the Missouri average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Carthage

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      Carthage transportation information

      Statistic Carthage Missouri National
      Average one way commute16min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work77.0%81.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool15.3%9.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.5%1.9%2.8%
      Working from home5.2%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Carthage, MO data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.