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Compare towns

Adrian vs Seneca

109 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (4× in Adrian) and rent (+43% in Seneca).

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Adrian, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,857 people
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Seneca, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,906 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Adrian

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Adrian$1,500/mo
Typical home $260K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.61% · or rent about $631/mo · Housing →
Seneca$1,290/mo
Typical home $225K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $902/mo · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,500 a year, between Adrian and Seneca.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Missouri ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
AdrianSeneca
Snow a year10″8″
January low20°F25°F
July high90°F90°F
Growing season (days)192d206d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)61st90th
Outdoors & history
AdrianSeneca
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land3.4%—
Settled18801869
Archive photos610
Famous people born here35
Community
AdrianSeneca
Library hours a week27 hrs31 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

109 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Adrian ↔ Seneca109 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

AdrianSeneca
People
Population 1,857Lowest 1,906Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.2%Highest MO: +2.8% -4.5%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 40.8±5.5Highest 5% above MO 39.9±11.7Lowest about the MO average
Adrian and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.5%±4.3Highest MO: 22.3% 25.2%±5Lowest MO: 22.3%
Adrian and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 22.4%±3.4Lowest MO: 17.9% 24.3%±3.2Highest MO: 17.9%
Seneca and Adrian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.8%Highest MO: 32.4% 7%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.9%±1.2Highest MO: 5.7% 1.4%±1.1Lowest MO: 5.7%
Adrian and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $52,829±$9kHighest 25% below MO $46,023±$10kLowest 35% below MO
Adrian and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $159,500±$9kHighest 31% below MO $132,600±$38kLowest 42% below MO
Adrian and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $631±$79Lowest 39% below MO $902±$102Highest 13% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $977Highest 50% below MO $780Lowest 60% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 37.2%±13.8Lowest MO: 45.6% 51.8%±20.8Highest MO: 45.6%
Seneca and Adrian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.8%Lowest MO: 12.6% 21.4%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 64.3%Highest MO: 68.1% 64.2%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Lowest 9 yrs older than MO 1972Highest 6 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 14% above MO 23 minLowest 3% below MO
Work from home 10%±6Highest MO: 13% 7.1%±4.6Lowest MO: 13%
Adrian and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.9%Highest 9.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miHighest 16.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.99Highest 0.66Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Butler (11%)Joplin (25%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SenecaFew work in Adrian
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.4%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.2 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 73.4Highest 59.6Lowest
Schools
School district —SENECA R-VII
High school in town —Seneca High
Students per teacherat that high school — 13.0
Missouri average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Adrian neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Adrian’s Town Square.

Seneca neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Seneca’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Adrian and Seneca

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Towns like Adrian

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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