What it's like to live in Raytown
Raytown is a small city in Missouri with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Raytown deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Raytown compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Raytown
Based on Raytown's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,436
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,720 a year
- 43% of Raytown renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$36,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,290
- Homes cost 2.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 14% below US
$1,218/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,218 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $182,900. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $182,900 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 102% above US
664 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2797/100k · Raytown Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 39% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Harry S Truman National Historic Site (5 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Raytown's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,218/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget.
Other places near Raytown
All Missouri guides →Moving to Lee's Summit →
7 mi away · pop. 103,656
Rent $1,422/mo · Income $102,531
Compare with Raytown →Moving to Independence →
9 mi away · pop. 121,740
Rent $1,109/mo · Income $60,339
Compare with Raytown →Moving to Kansas City →
10 mi away · pop. 510,612
Rent $1,238/mo · Income $69,166
Compare with Raytown →Not sure Raytown is the one?
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