Quality of Life

Can you calculate a state’s quality of life? Probably not. Not in precise mathematical terms, anyway. But what about alphabetical? That’s where Missouri has the whole package, from A to Z. Take a look:

Affordability. Covered in various places throughout this publication, but here’s a quick reminder: In cost of living, Missouri ranks near dead last—that’s a good thing—below 46 other states in the combined costs of housing, groceries, health care, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous goods.

Boating. Get out on the water at Lake of the Ozarks, America’s top-ranked recreation lake is complemented by a series of top-flight boating venues, including Table Rock Lake, Truman Reservoir (actually, the state’s largest by surface area), Bull Shoals, Stockton and many other lakes and rivers.

Collegiate Sports. Division I college football with Mizzou in the powerful Southeastern Conference, Division I basketball at six universities, Division II and NCAA championship subdivision football.

Dining. It ain’t just barbecue: from small-town diners to white-tablecloth French restaurants, Missouri has it all. If you can’t find your ultimate fried-chicken dinner in Missouri, you can’t find it anywhere.

Energy. Electricity rates in Missouri are 19th-lowest nationwide, averaging 9.64 cents per kilowatt hour, says the federal Energy Information Administration.

Family Fun. Silver Dollar City in Branson, Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Worlds of Fun, and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City—if you want big-time theme parks, Missouri has ’em. Plus, Sea Life Aquarium in KC, the St. Louis Science Center for kids, and a lot of learning-based experiences.

Gas Taxes. Fifth-lowest in the nation, at 19.5 cents a gallon. And if you think that’s not quality of life enough, let’s go with the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, a global draw for tourism.

History. A wealth of it is at your fingertips, with attractions that date to the state’s settlement in the early 19th century, invoking names like Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Daniel Boone.

Interstates. Some of the most vital cross-country asphalt links run through Missouri: I-70 from east-west; I-35 and I-29 in the northwest, and I-49 in the west, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to Canada; I-44 linking St. Louis with the American Southwest; I-55 proving a connection to the American South along the Mississippi. 

Jazz. Kansas City and St. Louis both have a rich history with it and plenty of venues to celebrate classic styles and contemporary riffs on the genre.

Kansas City Barbecue. Yes, they have their own interpretation in St. Louis, but KC is the capital of true ’cue—not Texas, not Tennessee, and not the Carolinas. 

Libraries. The Truman Presidential Library in Independence might top the list for notoriety, but some of the biggest are on college campuses, including Washington University (the state’s biggest) and Mizzou in Columbia. Plus metro-wide library systems and local facilities in almost every city and town.

Museums. We’re loaded here: The famed Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City (which is also home to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art), the St. Louis Art Museum, the World Chess Hall of Fame, day-filling children’s museums, and many more, including the National World War I Museum in KC.

Night Life. Bars and restaurants in the big cities, honky-tonks in the small towns, concert venues, performing arts centers, and dance halls. You can’t be bored unless it’s part of the plan.

Outdoors (as in “The Great”). Hunting, fishing, boating, skiing (snow and water), snow-shoeing, biking, hiking, and even tanning (we average 205 sunny days a year)—there are limitless ways to take advantage of what nature has to offer.

Parks. With 10 state parks, six national park sites, and local park options in 114 counties, there’s no shortage of places to pitch a tent, from primitive camping to RV sites with water, electric, and sewer services.

Quick Get-Aways. Flights from St. Louis or Kansas City to any other point in the U.S. top out at about three hours. Put that up against the all-day terror that is LA-to-New York or Miami to the Seattle.

Rivers. The longest in the nation, the Missouri, and the most important, the Mississippi, meet up here. They constituted the nation’s first “interstate” system before the first roads were cut in the state.

Sports. Lots on the pro end, with the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and Royals (MLB), the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), and Blues (NHL), plus men’s and women’s pro soccer in each of those two major metro areas. 

Trails. For hiking and biking? An abundance of them highlighted by the nation’s longest rail-to-trail conversation project, the 237-mile Katy Trail.

Universities. Dozens, from major research institutions to small-town liberal-arts colleges to community colleges, focused on meeting the most immediate job-training needs.

Variable weather. Distinct seasons? Yep, we have four of them. It’d be nicer to have shorter winters and summers, but the fall and spring here are as spectacular in Missouri as anywhere.

Wineries: More than 150 across the state, highlighted by the Hermann area and a series of vineyards that make it a national destination for wine lovers.

X-Ray, CAT scans, and MRIs. High-level health care from world-class institutions throughout the state.

Yeast and brews. These simple, single-celled organisms have built brewing empires here, from one of the oldest brands, Budweiser, to great national brands like Boulevard, to dozens of microbreweries.

Zoos. This one is too easy: The zoos in St. Louis and Kansas City are among the best in the Midwest.