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Compare towns

Seneca vs Tipton

160 miles apart. The biggest differences: age 65+ (+8.7 pts in Seneca) and growth since 2010 (+6 pts in Seneca).

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Seneca, MOOne of the healthiest townsMissouri · 1,906 people
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Tipton, MOHomes around $190KMissouri · 2,667 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.

SenecaOne of the healthiest towns
Health90% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 29%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 66%of MO districts All about Seneca →
TiptonHomes around $190K
Housing$190K typical home29% below the MO typical home Health83% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors#102 most walkable in MO0.3 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Tipton →
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.

Age 65++8.7 pts
Seneca has more people 65 and up
Seneca 24.3%Tipton 15.6%
Growth since 2010+6 pts
Seneca has grown faster since 2010
Seneca -4.5%Tipton -10.5%
Property tax bill+17%
Tax bills are bigger in Tipton
Tipton $911Seneca $780
★ 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.

Safety
CSenecaSafer than 29% of U.S. towns –TiptonNot graded
Schools
B+SenecaBetter than 66% of districts in the state C−TiptonBetter than 18% of districts in the state
Health
DSenecaHealthier than 10% of U.S. towns C−TiptonHealthier than 17% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $180 more a month in Seneca

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.

Seneca$1,290/mo
Typical home $225K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $902/mo · Housing →
Tipton$1,100/mo
Typical home $190K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.70% · or rent about $785/mo · Housing →

The difference: $180 a month, about $2,200 a year, between Seneca and Tipton.

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
SenecaTipton
Snow a year8″10″
January low25°F20°F
July high90°F88°F
Growing season (days)206d195d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)90th29th
Outdoors & history
SenecaTipton
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—2.3%
Settled1869—
National Register places—2
Archive photos10—
Famous people born here55
Community
SenecaTipton
Library hours a week31 hrs32 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

160 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SenecaMOTiptonMO
Seneca ↔ Tipton160 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.

SenecaTipton
People
Population 1,906Lowest 2,667Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.5%Highest MO: +2.8% -10.5%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 39.9±11.7Highest about the MO average 39.6±4.4Lowest about the MO average
Seneca and Tipton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.2%±5Highest MO: 22.3% 19.4%±4Lowest MO: 22.3%
Seneca and Tipton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24.3%±3.2Highest MO: 17.9% 15.6%±4.1Lowest MO: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 7% MO: 32.4% 7% MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±1.1Lowest MO: 5.7% 4.1%±2Highest MO: 5.7%
Tipton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $46,023±$10kLowest 35% below MO $49,257±$6kHighest 30% below MO
Tipton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $132,600±$38kHighest 42% below MO $130,200±$17kLowest 43% below MO
Seneca and Tipton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $902±$102Highest 13% below MO $785±$79Lowest 24% below MO
Seneca and Tipton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $780Lowest 60% below MO $911Highest 53% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 51.8%±20.8Highest MO: 45.6% 32.8%±17.1Lowest MO: 45.6%
Seneca and Tipton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 21.4%Highest MO: 12.6% 20.4%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 64.2%Lowest MO: 68.1% 70.4%Highest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1972Highest 6 yrs older than MO 1970Lowest 8 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minHighest 3% below MO 21 minLowest 11% below MO
Work from home 7.1%±4.6Lowest MO: 13% 10%±6.9Highest MO: 13%
Tipton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 9.8%Lowest 16.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.8 miLowest 28.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.66Lowest 0.92Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Joplin (25%)Jefferson City (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in TiptonFew work in Seneca
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 2.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 mi 0.3 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.6Lowest 70.9Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#197 of 226 in MO
School district SENECA R-VIITIPTON R-VI
High school in town Seneca HighTipton High
Students per teacherat that high school 13.0Highest 12.2Lowest
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.

Seneca neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Seneca’s Town Square.

Tipton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Tipton’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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