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Alton vs Waverly

209 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (6.5× in Alton) and rent (+42% in Waverly).

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Alton, MOA regional job hubMissouri · 744 people
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Waverly, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 901 people
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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.

AltonA regional job hub
Work346 jobsbased in Alton, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 17%of MO districts Housing$174K typical home35% below the MO typical home All about Alton →
WaverlyKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 73%of MO districts Housing$207K typical home23% below the MO typical home HistorySettled in 18451 place on the National Register All about Waverly →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

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

Trails6.5×
Alton has more miles of trail
Alton 2.6 miWaverly 0.4 mi
Rent+42%
Rent runs higher in Waverly
Waverly $910Alton $639
Average commute13 min
Alton has the shorter commute
Waverly 29 minAlton 16 min
Growth since 2010+11.1 pts
Waverly has grown faster since 2010
Waverly -7.7%Alton -18.8%
Jobs per worker2.2×
Alton is more of a job hub
Alton 1.54Waverly 0.69
★ What stands out · 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.

Schools
C−AltonBetter than 17% of districts in the state B+WaverlyBetter than 73% of districts in the state
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Waverly

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.

Alton$1,040/mo
Typical home $174K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.92% · or rent about $639/mo · Housing →
Waverly$1,240/mo
Typical home $207K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.90% · or rent about $910/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Waverly and Alton.

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.

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
AltonWaverly
Snow a year4″13″
January low22°F17°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)187d187d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)83rd40th
Outdoors & history
AltonWaverly
Trails3 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled19291845
National Register places—1
Archive photos3—
Community
AltonWaverly
Library hours a week40 hrs30 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

209 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

AltonMOWaverlyMO
Alton ↔ Waverly209 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.

AltonWaverly
People
Population 744Lowest 901Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -18.8%Lowest MO: +2.8% -7.7%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 36.5±6.1Highest 6% below MO 34±9.6Lowest 13% below MO
Alton and Waverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.6%±7.9Lowest MO: 22.3% 32.7%±9.3Highest MO: 22.3%
Waverly and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.6%±1.3Lowest MO: 17.9% 21.4%±4.3Highest MO: 17.9%
Waverly and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.3%Highest MO: 32.4% 18.5%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.2%±2.7Lowest MO: 5.7% 2.7%±2.7Highest MO: 5.7%
Waverly and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $50,208±$8kHighest 29% below MO $47,969±$9kLowest 32% below MO
Alton and Waverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $114,200±$106kLowest 50% below MO $117,700±$14kHighest 49% below MO
Waverly and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $639±$78Lowest 38% below MO $910±$70Highest 12% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,052Lowest 46% below MO $1,054Highest 46% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 37.7%±23.2Highest MO: 45.6% 27.3%±19.2Lowest MO: 45.6%
Alton and Waverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 16.5%Highest MO: 12.6% 9.8%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 55.7%Highest MO: 68.1% 54.7%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1968Lowest 10 yrs older than MO 1972Highest 6 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 32% below MO 29 minHighest 22% above MO
Work from home 4.6%±6.5Highest MO: 13% 1.8%±1.7Lowest MO: 13%
Alton and Waverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 17.9%Highest 15.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 25.3 mi 25.3 mi
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.54Highest 0.69Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town West Plains (17%)Kansas City (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WaverlyFew work in Alton
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 2.6 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.6 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 55.2Highest 51.7Lowest
Schools
School district ALTON R-IVDIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE · SANTA FE R-X
High school in town Alton HighWaverly Regional Youth CTR.
Students per teacherat that high school 9.2Highest 5.1Lowest
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.

Alton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Alton’s Town Square.

Waverly neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Waverly’s Town Square.

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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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