Joplin 64 Average
Joplin Livability #318 ranked city in Missouri#14,578 ranked city in the USARanks better than 50% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Joplin

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

  • Crime Crime

    High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Joplin?

Located in the state of Missouri, Joplin is a medium-sized city with a population of 51,877 inhabitants. According to the most recent Census, 85% of Joplin residents are White, 4% Black and 2% Asian. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Joplin is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in Joplin is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before relocating to any new city in Missouri, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Joplin and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes cost of living, commute, health & safety, education and other important metrics.

Joplin, MO receives 64 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #295 in Missouri and #13,581 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Joplin has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Joplin. The following was graded with a concerning score: amenities (F), crime (F) and employment (D-).

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 Joplin 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.

Joplin real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Joplin. The median home price for Joplin homes is $224,964, which is 9.9% lower than the Missouri average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Joplin, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.4, which is 0% lower than the Missouri average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Joplin

See all the best places to live around Joplin

How Do You Rate The Livability In Joplin?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Joplin, MO Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Joplin transportation information

      Statistic Joplin Missouri National
      Average one way commute18min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work79.8%81.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool12.0%9.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.4%1.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.4%1.9%2.8%
      Working from home4.1%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Joplin, 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.