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

B−ForsythSafer than 47% of U.S. towns –HigginsvilleNot graded

Schools

A−ForsythBetter than 83% of districts in the state BHigginsvilleBetter than 59% of districts in the state

Health

C−ForsythHealthier than 21% of U.S. towns B−HigginsvilleHealthier than 53% of U.S. towns

7Forsyth

10Higginsville

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Highest incomeIncome · 261 towns #226#63 Fastest growingGrowth · 260 towns #20#146 Most new homesHousing · 200 towns #51#141 Cheapest rentCost of living · 256 towns #37#142 Best schoolsSchools · 226 towns #87#168 Most activeHealth · 261 towns #171#85 HealthiestHealth · 261 towns #154#79 Fewest smokersHealth · 261 towns #134#66

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Down paymentRate%

Forsyth$1,190/mo

Typical home $209K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.53% · or rent about $706/mo · Housing →

Higginsville$1,330/mo

Typical home $227K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $980/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,700 a year, between Higginsville and Forsyth.

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

ForsythHigginsville

Snow a year7″14″

January low24°F 18°F

July high92°F 87°F

Growing season (days)205d 195d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)76th 19th

Outdoors & history

ForsythHigginsville

Trails5 mi 1 mi

Conserved land5.1%7.2%

Settled—1869

National Register places1 4

Community

ForsythHigginsville

Library hours a week—33 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

168 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ForsythMO HigginsvilleMO

Forsyth ↔ Higginsville168 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.

Only big differences vs Missouri average

ForsythHigginsville

People

Population 2,766Lowest 4,781Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +21.1%Highest MO: +2.8% +0.4%Lowest MO: +2.8%

Median age 51.6±9.7Highest 32% above MO 44.6±6.4Lowest 14% above MO

Forsyth and Higginsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 16.9%±4.8Highest MO: 22.3% 12.6%±3.3Lowest MO: 22.3%

Forsyth and Higginsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 36.4%±7.5Highest MO: 17.9% 25.2%±5.1Lowest MO: 17.9%

Forsyth and Higginsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 34.3%Highest MO: 32.4% 29.9%Lowest MO: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±0.9Lowest MO: 5.7% 2.7%±1.7Highest MO: 5.7%

Higginsville and Forsyth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $45,824±$6kLowest 35% below MO $81,033±$16kHighest 15% above MO

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $192,600±$9kHighest 16% below MO $166,100±$19kLowest 28% below MO

Forsyth and Higginsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $706±$220Lowest 32% below MO $980±$99Highest 5% below MO

Higginsville and Forsyth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,027Lowest 47% below MO $1,270Highest 35% below MO

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 42.4%±25.4Highest MO: 45.6% 39.1%±15.8Lowest MO: 45.6%

Forsyth and Higginsville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 11.7%Highest MO: 12.6% 6.8%Lowest MO: 12.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 71.1%Lowest MO: 68.1% 74.5%Highest MO: 68.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1991Highest 13 yrs newer than MO 1970Lowest 8 yrs older than MO

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 23 minHighest about the MO average 20 minLowest 16% below MO

Work from home 2.3%±1.9Lowest MO: 13% 2.9%±1.9Highest MO: 13%

Higginsville and Forsyth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 12.2%Lowest 20.5%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.3 miLowest 22.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.24Highest 0.99Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Branson (26%)Kansas City (12%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HigginsvilleFew work in Forsyth

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 5.1%Lowest 7.2%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 4.5 miHighest 0.6 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 4Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 60.5Lowest 72.5Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #87 of 226 in MO #168 of 226 in MO

School district FORSYTH R-IIILAFAYETTE CO. C-1

High school in town Forsyth HighLafayette Co. High

Students per teacherat that high school 12.5 12.5

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.

Forsyth neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Forsyth’s Town Square.

Higginsville neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Higginsville’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Forsyth and Higginsville

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Towns like Forsyth

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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.

Forsyth vs Higginsville

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Higginsville places higher on 10 of 20 MO lists

A typical home costs about the same each month

What daily life feels like in each

168 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Forsyth and Higginsville

Towns like Forsyth

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