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Compare towns

Belle vs Bourbon

27 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+73% in Bourbon) and property tax bill (+27% in Bourbon).

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Belle, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,246 people
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Bourbon, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,636 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.

BelleOne of the healthiest towns
Health93% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 28%of MO districts Housing$219K typical home18% below the MO typical home All about Belle →
BourbonOne of the healthiest towns
Health83% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$165K typical home39% below the MO typical home SchoolsBetter than 69%of MO districts All about Bourbon →
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.

Rent+73%
Rent runs higher in Bourbon
Bourbon $907Belle $524
Property tax bill+27%
Tax bills are bigger in Bourbon
Bourbon $1,024Belle $808
Growth since 2010+6.6 pts
Bourbon has grown faster since 2010
Bourbon -4%Belle -10.6%
Jobs per worker+75%
Bourbon is more of a job hub
Bourbon 1.07Belle 0.61
Street grid+52%
Belle has the more walkable street grid
Belle 107Bourbon 70.2
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $280 more a month in Belle

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.

Belle$1,240/mo
Typical home $219K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · or rent about $524/mo · Housing →
Bourbon$970/mo
Typical home $165K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $907/mo · Housing →

The difference: $280 a month, about $3,300 a year, between Belle and Bourbon.

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.

Safety
–BelleNot graded BBourbonSafer than 64% of U.S. towns
Schools
CBelleBetter than 28% of districts in the state B+BourbonBetter than 69% of districts in the state
Health
DBelleHealthier than 7% of U.S. towns C−BourbonHealthier than 17% of U.S. towns
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
BelleBourbon
Snow a year11″8″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)54th33rd
Outdoors & history
BelleBourbon
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—1.1%
Archive photos—4
Famous people born here11
Community
BelleBourbon
Library hours a week22 hrs48 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

27 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BelleBourbonBelleBourbon
Belle ↔ Bourbon27 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.

BelleBourbon
People
Population 1,246Lowest 1,636Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -10.6%Lowest MO: +2.8% -4%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 35.4±6.2Highest 9% below MO 33.7±4.7Lowest 14% below MO
Belle and Bourbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.6%±5.6Lowest MO: 22.3% 23.5%±4.5Highest MO: 22.3%
Bourbon and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 12.4%±3.2Lowest MO: 17.9% 16.1%±3.2Highest MO: 17.9%
Bourbon and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.5%Lowest MO: 32.4% 15.3%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.7%±3.4Lowest MO: 5.7% 5.3%±2.5Highest MO: 5.7%
Bourbon and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $55,192±$11kHighest 22% below MO $53,533±$16kLowest 24% below MO
Belle and Bourbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $151,000±$22kHighest 34% below MO $136,800±$21kLowest 41% below MO
Belle and Bourbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $524±$94Lowest 49% below MO $907±$68Highest 12% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $808Lowest 59% below MO $1,024Highest 47% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 37.6%±23Highest MO: 45.6% 35.3%±13.8Lowest MO: 45.6%
Belle and Bourbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 21.8%Highest MO: 12.6% 20.6%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 56.3%Lowest MO: 68.1% 58.2%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1973Lowest 5 yrs older than MO 1978Highest same as MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minLowest 21% above MO 29 minHighest 25% above MO
Work from home 9%±5.9Highest MO: 13% 1.8%±1.7Lowest MO: 13%
Belle and Bourbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8.1%Highest 6.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 31.3 miHighest 22.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.61Lowest 1.07Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Jefferson City (19%)Sullivan (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BourbonFew work in Belle
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 1.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 107Highest 70.2Lowest
Schools
School district MARIES CO. R-IICRAWFORD CO. R-I
High school in town Belle HighBourbon High School
Students per teacherat that high school 11.3Lowest 14.5Highest
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.

Belle neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Belle’s Town Square.

Bourbon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bourbon’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Belle and Bourbon

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Belle

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Mound Township926 people · $161K homes
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Osceola1,042 people · $127K homes

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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