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Compare towns

Niangua vs Cobalt

140 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (65× in Niangua) and average commute (8 min in Cobalt).

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Niangua, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 537 people
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Cobalt, MOA small town of 364Missouri · 364 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.

NianguaKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 9%of MO districts All about Niangua →
CobaltA small town of 364
Quiet strengthsCobalt doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Cobalt →
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.

Jobs per worker65×
Niangua is more of a job hub
Niangua 0.65Cobalt 0.01
Average commute8 min
Cobalt has the shorter commute
Niangua 24 minCobalt 16 min
Street grid+57%
Niangua has the more walkable street grid
Niangua 129Cobalt 82.1
Typical home built14 yrs
Cobalt’s homes are older
Niangua 1974Cobalt 1960
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $940 more a month in Niangua

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.

Niangua$1,510/mo
Typical home $264K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $693/mo · Housing →
Cobalt$570/mo
Typical home $84K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $834/mo · Housing →

The difference: $940 a month, about $11,300 a year, between Niangua and Cobalt.

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

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
DNianguaBetter than 9% of districts in the state –CobaltNot graded
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
NianguaCobalt
Snow a year5″9″
January low22°F21°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)191d174d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)55th78th
Outdoors & history
NianguaCobalt
Famous people born here1—
Community
NianguaCobalt
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

140 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

NianguaMOCobaltMO
Niangua ↔ Cobalt140 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.

NianguaCobalt
People
Population 537Highest 364Lowest
Median age 30.1±1.5Highest 23% below MO 30±5.9Lowest 23% below MO
Niangua and Cobalt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 33.1%±8.1Highest MO: 22.3% 33%±21.8Lowest MO: 22.3%
Niangua and Cobalt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 6.3%±4Lowest MO: 17.9% 11%±5.1Highest MO: 17.9%
Cobalt and Niangua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 8.3%Highest MO: 32.4% 3.3%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.3%±4.4Highest MO: 5.7% 0.3%±3.4Lowest MO: 5.7%
Niangua and Cobalt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $45,179±$18kHighest 36% below MO $34,750±$24kLowest 51% below MO
Niangua and Cobalt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $105,400±$22kHighest 54% below MO $84,200±$39kLowest 63% below MO
Niangua and Cobalt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $693±$125Lowest 33% below MO $834±$192Highest 19% below MO
Cobalt and Niangua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $613 69% below MO —
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.1%±34.5Lowest MO: 45.6% 66.7%±38.8Highest MO: 45.6%
Cobalt and Niangua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 28%Lowest MO: 12.6% 38.1%Highest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 51.3%Lowest MO: 68.1% 52.1%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Highest 4 yrs older than MO 1960Lowest 18 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minHighest about the MO average 16 minLowest 34% below MO
Work from home 4.6%±6Highest MO: 13% 0%±7.8Lowest MO: 13%
Niangua and Cobalt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 26.3 miHighest 18.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.65Highest 0.01Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Springfield (39%)Fredericktown (27%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CobaltFew work in Niangua
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 129Highest 82.1Lowest
Schools
School district NIANGUA R-V—
High school in town Niangua High—
Students per teacherat that high school 9.2 —
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.

Niangua neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Niangua’s Town Square.

Cobalt neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cobalt’s Town Square.

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Towns like Niangua

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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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