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Living in
Jefferson City.
About
Life in Jefferson City
If you're considering Jefferson City, you're looking at a stable, modest-sized city where government jobs provide steady employment and the cost of living is reasonable—median home values around $219,000 and median rent under $800 make it affordable compared to many regional alternatives. The unemployment rate sits at 3.3%, and the median household income of $66,371 reflects a working-class to middle-class character; the economy relies on government, healthcare, manufacturing, and education rather than a single dominant industry. The community is fairly established with about 36.9% holding college degrees, and Lincoln University brings educational and cultural resources, though it's a smaller city with fewer restaurants and amenities than you'd find in Columbia (30 miles north) or larger metros.
Jefferson City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Jefferson City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jefferson City, the largest foreign-born group is from India (17.8%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.9%
of households
Married Couples
40.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Jefferson City
In Jefferson City, rent runs 22% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,751
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $277,642 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below MO average
Unemployment in Jefferson City
Unemployment in Jefferson City is 0.6 percentage points lower than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Jefferson City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.5 min avg
How Jefferson City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jefferson City, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Columbia Regional Airport (COU)
Regional airport · few flights122k passengers boarded in 2025
- 98 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 6% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jefferson City runs 6% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
347.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,801.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jefferson City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cole County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cole County, which includes Jefferson City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 5 | Hail | $110,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | Sleet | $15,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Flash Flood | $5,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | Flash Flood | $3.0M |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $170.0M |
| 2018 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cole County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Callaway County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 23 miles from Jefferson City) is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
27
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Callaway County, MO (23 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jefferson City has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
8.9"
Hot Days/Year
37
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
106
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 21°F | 2.21" |
| Feb | 45°F | 25°F | 2.30" |
| Mar | 56°F | 34°F | 3.24" |
| Apr | 67°F | 44°F | 4.78" |
| May | 75°F | 55°F | 5.17" |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.20" |
| Jul | 88°F | 69°F | 4.35" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 4.13" |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 4.24" |
| Oct | 69°F | 46°F | 3.44" |
| Nov | 55°F | 35°F | 3.24" |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 2.30" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jefferson City
Jefferson City has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Ssm Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jefferson City
Jefferson City's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
9
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Jefferson City
Public · 4-year · 1,392 students · in-state tuition $10,180 · 31% graduate · median earnings $41,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, 99 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jefferson City
Jefferson City has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (99 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jefferson City
Missouri River Regional Library
214 Adams St, Jefferson City
Cities Near Jefferson City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jefferson City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jefferson City FAQ
Is Jefferson City, Missouri affordable?⌄
Jefferson City's median rent is $802/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,371/year. Median home value is $218,700.
Is Jefferson City, Missouri safe?⌄
Jefferson City's violent crime rate was 348 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1802 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jefferson City, Missouri?⌄
Jefferson City has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jefferson City, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Jefferson City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $802/month and median household income is $66,371/year. The median home value is $218,700. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jefferson City, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Jefferson City is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from