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Fenton vs Murphy

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (10.6× in Fenton) and property tax bill (2.9× in Fenton).

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Fenton, MOAn outdoors townMissouri · 4,088 people
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Murphy, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 8,285 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.

FentonAn outdoors town
Outdoors#9 most conserved land in MO5.5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 84%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#39 for schools in MOof 226 towns All about Fenton →
MurphyOne of the healthiest towns
Health71% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Schools#60 for schools in MOof 226 towns All about Murphy →
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.

Jobs per worker10.6×
Fenton is more of a job hub
Fenton 10.20Murphy 0.96
Property tax bill2.9×
Tax bills are bigger in Fenton
Fenton $4,408Murphy $1,503
Home values2×
Homes cost more in Fenton
Fenton $374,500Murphy $184,700
Rent+54%
Rent runs higher in Fenton
Fenton $1,622Murphy $1,056
Bachelor’s degree++26.9 pts
More adults in Fenton have a degree
Fenton 49.3%Murphy 22.4%
Household income+40%
Households in Fenton earn more
Fenton $101,000Murphy $72,233
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,110 more a month in Fenton

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.

Fenton$2,210/mo
Typical home $354K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.18% · or rent about $1,622/mo · Housing →
Murphy$1,090/mo
Typical home $185K (Census) · tax rate 0.81% · or rent about $1,056/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,110 a month, about $13,300 a year, between Fenton and Murphy.

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

Fenton places higher on 12 of 17 MO lists

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
AFentonBetter than 90% of districts in the state BMurphyBetter than 59% of districts in the state
Health
A−FentonHealthier than 84% of U.S. towns CMurphyHealthier than 29% of U.S. towns
12Fenton
4Murphy

Lists won, of 17 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Lowest obesityHealth · 261 towns #19#203 Fewest smokersHealth · 261 towns #28#134 Lowest property taxCost of living · 259 towns #236#132 HealthiestHealth · 261 towns #31#133 Most affordableCost of living · 260 towns #237#136 Most walkableOutdoors · 261 towns #171#76 Most educatedPeople · 261 towns #34#125 Cheapest rentCost of living · 256 towns #244#162

Left end = #1 in Missouri. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Fenton’s rankings →

Where they are

Fenton and Murphy share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

FentonMurphyFentonMurphy
Fenton ↔ Murphy3.2 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
226 Murphy residents work in Fenton (5.8% of its workers)
Work & commute in Murphy →
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
FentonMurphy
Snow a year10″10″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)62nd75th
Outdoors & history
FentonMurphy
Trails6 mi—
Conserved land13.5%—
Settled1818—
National Register places1—
Archive photos181
Famous people born here6—
Community
FentonMurphy
Colleges in town1—
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.

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.

FentonMurphy
People
Population 4,088Lowest 8,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.8%Highest MO: +2.8% -3%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 48±5.5Highest 23% above MO 39.2±4.4Lowest about the MO average
Fenton and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 18.8%±4.1Lowest MO: 22.3% 20.7%±4.4Highest MO: 22.3%
Murphy and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.2%±3.9Highest MO: 17.9% 20.3%±2.1Lowest MO: 17.9%
Fenton and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 49.3%Highest MO: 32.4% 22.4%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.6%±2.4Highest MO: 5.7% 4.4%±2.1Lowest MO: 5.7%
Fenton and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $101,000±$7kHighest 43% above MO $72,233±$11kLowest about the MO average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $374,500±$20kHighest 63% above MO $184,700±$9kLowest 20% below MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,622±$131Highest 57% above MO $1,056±$153Lowest about the MO average
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,408Highest 126% above MO $1,503Lowest 23% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 21.3%±13.7Lowest MO: 45.6% 36.5%±14.6Highest MO: 45.6%
Murphy and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 3.5%Lowest MO: 12.6% 10.2%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 82.6%Highest MO: 68.1% 80.4%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1989Highest 11 yrs newer than MO 1977Lowest 1 yr older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minLowest 6% above MO 25 minHighest 8% above MO
Work from home 13.4%±4.2Highest MO: 13% 13.2%±6.3Lowest MO: 13%
Fenton and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8.2%Highest 5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 12.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 10.20Highest 0.96Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town St. Louis (16%)St. Louis (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Murphy6% work in Fenton
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 13.5%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 5.5 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.8 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 6Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 51.8Lowest 81.0Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 226 in MO#60 of 226 in MO
School district ROCKWOOD R-VINORTHWEST R-I
High school in town None in townNone in town
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.

Fenton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Fenton’s Town Square.

Murphy neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Murphy’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Fenton and Murphy

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Bordering Fenton

S
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Sunset Hills9,112 people · $524K homes

Towns like Fenton

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Village of Four Seasons2,252 people · $365K homes
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Weldon Spring5,310 people · $544K homes
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Cottleville5,937 people · $435K homes
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Battlefield6,165 people · $256K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Missouri towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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