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Compare towns

Purdy vs Pierce City

10 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (6 min in Purdy) and property tax bill (+18% in Pierce City).

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Purdy, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 1,121 people
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Pierce City, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,477 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.

PurdyKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 14%of MO districts Health83% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$217K typical home19% below the MO typical home All about Purdy →
Pierce CityOne of the healthiest towns
Health92% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$133K typical home50% below the MO typical home HistorySettled in 18702 places on the National Register All about Pierce City →
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.

Average commute6 min
Purdy has the shorter commute
Pierce City 24 minPurdy 18 min
Property tax bill+18%
Tax bills are bigger in Pierce City
Pierce City $658Purdy $557
Street grid+40%
Purdy has the more walkable street grid
Purdy 100Pierce City 71.4
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $490 more a month in Purdy

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.

Purdy$1,250/mo
Typical home $217K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.60% · or rent about $539/mo · Housing →
Pierce City$750/mo
Typical home $133K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.49% · or rent about $776/mo · Housing →

The difference: $490 a month, about $5,900 a year, between Purdy and Pierce City.

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
DPurdyBetter than 14% of districts in the state C+Pierce CityBetter than 41% of districts in the state
Health
C−PurdyHealthier than 17% of U.S. towns DPierce CityHealthier than 8% of U.S. towns
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
PurdyPierce City
Snow a year7″6″
January low24°F—
July high88°F—
Growing season (days)199d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)65th78th
Outdoors & history
PurdyPierce City
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—0%
Settled—1870
National Register places—2
Archive photos—2
Famous people born here—1
Community
PurdyPierce City
Library hours a week—32 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

10 miles apart

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

PurdyPierce CityPurdyPierce City
Purdy ↔ Pierce City10.0 miles apart
Who commutes between them
6 Pierce City residents work in Purdy (1.1% of its workers)
Work & commute in Pierce City →
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.

PurdyPierce City
People
Population 1,121Lowest 1,477Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -6.1%Lowest MO: +2.8% -3.2%Highest MO: +2.8%
Median age 30.8±6Highest 21% below MO 29±5.3Lowest 26% below MO
Purdy and Pierce City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 34.9%±6.8Lowest MO: 22.3% 38%±1.1Highest MO: 22.3%
Pierce City and Purdy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.8%±8.8Highest MO: 17.9% 8.3%±1.8Lowest MO: 17.9%
Purdy and Pierce City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 7.9%Highest MO: 32.4% 5.8%Lowest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.4%±1.4Lowest MO: 5.7% 2.5%±2Highest MO: 5.7%
Pierce City and Purdy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $36,711±$11kLowest 48% below MO $51,121±$11kHighest 28% below MO
Pierce City and Purdy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $92,300±$43kLowest 60% below MO $135,600±$35kHighest 41% below MO
Pierce City and Purdy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $539±$411Lowest 48% below MO $776±$55Highest 25% below MO
Pierce City and Purdy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $557Lowest 71% below MO $658Highest 66% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 44.3%±26Highest MO: 45.6% 21.8%±10.9Lowest MO: 45.6%
Purdy and Pierce City are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 36.9%Highest MO: 12.6% 31.8%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.4%Lowest MO: 68.1% 65.6%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Highest 1 yr newer than MO 1968Lowest 10 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 23% below MO 24 minHighest 3% above MO
Work from home 3.2%±4Lowest MO: 13% 10.7%±9.1Highest MO: 13%
Pierce City and Purdy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.9%Highest 4.3%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 14.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.80Highest 0.56Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Monett (18%)Monett (29%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Pierce City1% work in Purdy
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 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 100Highest 71.4Lowest
Schools
School district PURDY R-IIPIERCE CITY R-VI
High school in town Purdy HighPierce City High
Students per teacherat that high school 11.5Lowest 12.8Highest
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.

Purdy neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Purdy’s Town Square.

Pierce City neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Pierce City’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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