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Compare towns

Macon vs Eldon

96 miles apart. The biggest differences: household income (+48% in Macon) and work in town (+23.8 pts in Macon).

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Macon, MOA regional job hubMissouri · 5,466 people
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Eldon, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 4,556 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.

MaconA regional job hub
Work3,208 jobsbased in Macon, a regional job hub Health66% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Schools#73 for schools in MOof 226 towns All about Macon →
EldonKnown for its schools
Schools#77 for schools in MOof 226 towns Housing$195K typical home27% below the MO typical home Health82% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Eldon →
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.

Household income+48%
Households in Macon earn more
Macon $61,642Eldon $41,684
Work in town+23.8 pts
More of Macon’s workers stay in town
Macon 42.9%Eldon 19.1%
Property tax bill+33%
Tax bills are bigger in Macon
Macon $1,024Eldon $769
Rent+21%
Rent runs higher in Eldon
Eldon $822Macon $680
Street grid+51%
Eldon has the more walkable street grid
Eldon 90.1Macon 59.6
★ What stands out · Report cards

Macon places higher on 14 of 21 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.

Safety
B−MaconSafer than 50% of U.S. towns BEldonSafer than 64% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+MaconBetter than 67% of districts in the state AEldonBetter than 87% of districts in the state
Health
CMaconHealthier than 34% of U.S. towns C−EldonHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns
14Macon
7Eldon

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Highest graduation rateSchools · 216 towns #170#6 Highest incomeIncome · 261 towns #127#239 Lowest depressionHealth · 261 towns #51#152 Most walkableOutdoors · 261 towns #148#58 Most new homesHousing · 200 towns #86#27 Fewest smokersHealth · 261 towns #89#151 Cheapest rentCost of living · 256 towns #26#85 Most educatedPeople · 261 towns #126#179

Left end = #1 in Missouri. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Macon’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.

Macon$1,090/mo
Typical home $187K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $680/mo · Housing →
Eldon$1,100/mo
Typical home $195K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.49% · or rent about $822/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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
MaconEldon
Snow a year15″4″
January low19°F25°F
July high87°F89°F
Growing season (days)195d216d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)46th24th
Outdoors & history
MaconEldon
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land2%—
Settled1856—
National Register places3—
Archive photos10—
Community
MaconEldon
Library hours a week44 hrs46 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

96 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MaconMOEldonMO
Macon ↔ Eldon96 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.

MaconEldon
People
Population 5,466Highest 4,556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.3%Highest MO: +2.8% -3.3%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 46.1±4.3Highest 18% above MO 44.3±6.8Lowest 14% above MO
Macon and Eldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.1%±3.6Highest MO: 22.3% 18.7%±4.3Lowest MO: 22.3%
Macon and Eldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.5%±3.5Highest MO: 17.9% 23.2%±4.9Lowest MO: 17.9%
Macon and Eldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.4%Highest MO: 32.4% 17.5%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.5%±1.4Highest MO: 5.7% 0.4%±0.6Lowest MO: 5.7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $61,642±$7kHighest 13% below MO $41,684±$8kLowest 41% below MO
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $151,800±$15kLowest 34% below MO $157,400±$45kHighest 32% below MO
Eldon and Macon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $680±$59Lowest 34% below MO $822±$57Highest 20% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,024Highest 47% below MO $769Lowest 61% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 50.7%±12.3Highest MO: 45.6% 38.7%±14.4Lowest MO: 45.6%
Macon and Eldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.5%Lowest MO: 12.6% 12.8%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 65.9%Lowest MO: 68.1% 68.5%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1970Lowest 8 yrs older than MO 1974Highest 4 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 23% below MO 21 minHighest 13% below MO
Work from home 4.7%±2.7Lowest MO: 13% 6.4%±3Highest MO: 13%
Eldon and Macon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 42.9%Highest 19.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 17.3 miLowest 21.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.72Highest 1.26Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Moberly (9%)Jefferson City (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in EldonFew work in Macon
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2%Highest 1.8%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.6Lowest 90.1Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #73 of 226 in MO#77 of 226 in MO
School district MACON CO. R-IELDON R-I
High school in town Macon Senior HighEldon High
Students per teacherat that high school 13.4Lowest 18.7Highest
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.

Macon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Macon’s Town Square.

Eldon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Eldon’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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