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Murphy vs Fenton

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

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 →
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 →
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.

Murphy$1,090/mo
Typical home $185K (Census) · tax rate 0.81% · or rent about $1,056/mo · Housing →
Fenton$2,210/mo
Typical home $354K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.18% · or rent about $1,622/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
BMurphyBetter than 59% of districts in the state AFentonBetter than 90% of districts in the state
Health
CMurphyHealthier than 29% of U.S. towns A−FentonHealthier than 84% of U.S. towns
4Murphy
12Fenton

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

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

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

Where they are

Murphy and Fenton share a border

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

MurphyFentonMurphyFenton
Murphy ↔ Fenton3.2 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
MurphyFenton
Snow a year10″10″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)75th62nd
Outdoors & history
MurphyFenton
Trails—6 mi
Conserved land—13.5%
Settled—1818
National Register places—1
Archive photos118
Famous people born here—6
Community
MurphyFenton
Colleges in town—1
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.

MurphyFenton
People
Population 8,285Highest 4,088Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3%Lowest MO: +2.8% -0.8%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 39.2±4.4Lowest about the MO average 48±5.5Highest 23% above MO
Fenton and Murphy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.7%±4.4Highest MO: 22.3% 18.8%±4.1Lowest 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+ 20.3%±2.1Lowest MO: 17.9% 23.2%±3.9Highest 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+ 22.4%Lowest MO: 32.4% 49.3%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.4%±2.1Lowest MO: 5.7% 4.6%±2.4Highest 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 $72,233±$11kLowest about the MO average $101,000±$7kHighest 43% above MO
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $184,700±$9kLowest 20% below MO $374,500±$20kHighest 63% above MO
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,056±$153Lowest about the MO average $1,622±$131Highest 57% above MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,503Lowest 23% below MO $4,408Highest 126% above MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 36.5%±14.6Highest MO: 45.6% 21.3%±13.7Lowest 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 10.2%Highest MO: 12.6% 3.5%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 80.4%Lowest MO: 68.1% 82.6%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977Lowest 1 yr older than MO 1989Highest 11 yrs newer than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minHighest 8% above MO 25 minLowest 6% above MO
Work from home 13.2%±6.3Lowest MO: 13% 13.4%±4.2Highest 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 5%Lowest 8.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.96Lowest 10.20Highest
Top workplaceoutside town St. Louis (12%)St. Louis (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 6% work in FentonFew work in Murphy
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 13.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 5.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 6Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 81.0Highest 51.8Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #60 of 226 in MO#39 of 226 in MO
School district NORTHWEST R-IROCKWOOD R-VI
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.

Murphy neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Murphy’s Town Square.

Fenton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Fenton’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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.

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