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Compare towns

Gerald vs Belle

23 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+61% in Gerald) and property tax bill (+64% in Gerald).

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Gerald, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,368 people
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Belle, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,246 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.

GeraldOne of the healthiest towns
Health77% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 64%of MO districts HistorySettled in 19012 places on the National Register All about Gerald →
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 →
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+61%
Rent runs higher in Gerald
Gerald $842Belle $524
Property tax bill+64%
Tax bills are bigger in Gerald
Gerald $1,328Belle $808
Growth since 2010+11.8 pts
Gerald has grown faster since 2010
Gerald +1.2%Belle -10.6%
Street grid+55%
Belle has the more walkable street grid
Belle 107Gerald 68.7
★ 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
BGeraldBetter than 64% of districts in the state CBelleBetter than 28% of districts in the state
Health
C−GeraldHealthier than 23% of U.S. towns DBelleHealthier than 7% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $260 more a month in Gerald

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.

Gerald$1,510/mo
Typical home $252K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $842/mo · Housing →
Belle$1,240/mo
Typical home $219K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · or rent about $524/mo · Housing →

The difference: $260 a month, about $3,100 a year, between Gerald and Belle.

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
GeraldBelle
Snow a year14″11″
January low18°F—
July high87°F—
Growing season (days)168d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)47th54th
Outdoors & history
GeraldBelle
Settled1901—
National Register places2—
Archive photos12—
Famous people born here—1
Community
GeraldBelle
Library hours a week—22 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

23 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GeraldBelleGeraldBelle
Gerald ↔ Belle23 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.

GeraldBelle
People
Population 1,368Highest 1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.2%Highest MO: +2.8% -10.6%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 38±5.8Highest about the MO average 35.4±6.2Lowest 9% below MO
Gerald and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.4%±4Lowest MO: 22.3% 22.6%±5.6Highest MO: 22.3%
Belle and Gerald are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.9%±3.1Highest MO: 17.9% 12.4%±3.2Lowest MO: 17.9%
Gerald and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.2%Highest MO: 32.4% 11.5%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4%±2.8Lowest MO: 5.7% 4.7%±3.4Highest MO: 5.7%
Belle and Gerald are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $61,458±$18kHighest 13% below MO $55,192±$11kLowest 22% below MO
Gerald and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $150,800±$17kLowest 35% below MO $151,000±$22kHighest 34% below MO
Belle and Gerald are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $842±$84Highest 18% below MO $524±$94Lowest 49% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,328Highest 32% below MO $808Lowest 59% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 41.3%±16.4Highest MO: 45.6% 37.6%±23Lowest MO: 45.6%
Gerald and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 14.5%Lowest MO: 12.6% 21.8%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 58.9%Highest MO: 68.1% 56.3%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977Highest 1 yr older than MO 1973Lowest 5 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minLowest 20% above MO 29 minHighest 21% above MO
Work from home 11.3%±7.6Highest MO: 13% 9%±5.9Lowest MO: 13%
Gerald and Belle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.1%Lowest 8.1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miLowest 31.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.86Highest 0.61Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Washington (11%)Jefferson City (19%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BelleFew work in Gerald
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 68.7Lowest 107Highest
Schools
School district GASCONADE CO. R-IIMARIES CO. R-II
High school in town None in townBelle High
Students per teacherat that high school — 11.3
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.

Gerald neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Gerald’s Town Square.

Belle neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Belle’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Gerald and Belle

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Towns like Gerald

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Appleton City1,221 people · $98K 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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