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Sullivan vs Lexington

160 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (7× in Lexington) and jobs per worker (+86% in Sullivan).

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Sullivan, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 6,310 people

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Lexington, MOA history townMissouri · 4,606 people

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.

SullivanKnown for its schools

Schools#53 for schools in MOof 226 towns Housing$211K typical home21% below the MO typical home SafetySafer than 5%of U.S. towns we grade All about Sullivan →

LexingtonA history town

HistorySettled in 182223 places on the National Register SchoolsBetter than 23%of MO districts

Outdoors#50 most conserved land in MO2.8 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves All about Lexington →

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.

Lexington has more miles of trail

Lexington 2.8 miSullivan 0.4 mi

Jobs per worker+86%

Sullivan is more of a job hub

Sullivan 1.43Lexington 0.77

Work in town+12.7 pts

More of Sullivan’s workers stay in town

Sullivan 26.2%Lexington 13.5%

Typical home built14 yrs

Lexington’s homes are older

Sullivan 1976Lexington 1962

★ What stands out · Report cards

Lexington 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

DSullivanSafer than 5% of U.S. towns C+LexingtonSafer than 41% of U.S. towns

Schools

A−SullivanBetter than 76% of districts in the state C−LexingtonBetter than 23% of districts in the state

Health

C−SullivanHealthier than 19% of U.S. towns CLexingtonHealthier than 31% of U.S. towns

7Sullivan

14Lexington

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

Best schoolsSchools · 226 towns #53#208 Most new homesHousing · 200 towns #54#169 Lowest depressionHealth · 261 towns #203#92 Lowest obesityHealth · 261 towns #203#94 Highest graduation rateSchools · 216 towns #96#6 SafestSafety · 156 towns #140#75 Most conserved landOutdoors · 235 towns #112#50 Shortest commuteGetting around · 261 towns #131#79

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

Down paymentRate%

Sullivan$1,250/mo

Typical home $211K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.84% · or rent about $919/mo · Housing →

Lexington$1,260/mo

Typical home $208K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $801/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

SullivanLexington

Snow a year8″14″

January low—20°F

July high—88°F

Growing season (days)—197d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)32nd 27th

Outdoors & history

SullivanLexington

Trails0 mi 3 mi

Conserved land2.2%4.7%

Settled—1822

National Register places2 23

Famous people born here—18

Community

SullivanLexington

Library hours a week59 hrs 49 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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.

SullivanMO LexingtonMO

Sullivan ↔ Lexington160 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.

Only big differences vs Missouri average

SullivanLexington

People

Population 6,310Highest 4,606Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.5%Lowest MO: +2.8% -1.6%Highest MO: +2.8%

Median age 39.4±4.1Highest about the MO average 37.2±4.4Lowest 5% below MO

Sullivan and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 24.1%±4.5Lowest MO: 22.3% 25.9%±6.3Highest MO: 22.3%

Lexington and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 20.3%±3.4Highest MO: 17.9% 17.3%±4.5Lowest MO: 17.9%

Sullivan and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18.9%Lowest MO: 32.4% 19.1%Highest MO: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.1%±1.4Lowest MO: 5.7% 3%±1.7Highest MO: 5.7%

Lexington and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $63,370±$8kHighest 10% below MO $56,905±$12kLowest 20% below MO

Sullivan and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $163,200±$7kHighest 29% below MO $161,300±$16kLowest 30% below MO

Sullivan and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $919±$56Highest 11% below MO $801±$117Lowest 22% below MO

Sullivan and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,372Lowest 30% below MO $1,525Highest 22% below MO

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 41%±9.2Lowest MO: 45.6% 46.1%±15.2Highest MO: 45.6%

Lexington and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 11.4%Lowest MO: 12.6% 17%Highest MO: 12.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 62.4%Highest MO: 68.1% 59.6%Lowest MO: 68.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1976Highest 2 yrs older than MO 1962Lowest 16 yrs older than MO

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 22 minHighest 7% below MO 19 minLowest 19% below MO

Work from home 5.4%±2.7Lowest MO: 13% 7.8%±5.9Highest MO: 13%

Lexington and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 26.2%Highest 13.5%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 25.3 miLowest 26.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.43Highest 0.77Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Union (4%)Kansas City (14%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LexingtonFew work in Sullivan

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.2%Lowest 4.7%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miLowest 2.8 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.5 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Lowest 4Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 56.6Highest 46.7Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #53 of 226 in MO #208 of 226 in MO

School district SULLIVANLEXINGTON R-V

High school in town Sullivan SR. HighLexington High

Students per teacherat that high school 13.9Lowest 16.9Highest

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.

Sullivan neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sullivan’s Town Square.

Lexington neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lexington’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Sullivan

Oak Grove Village347 people · $153K homes

West Sullivan220 people · $150K homes

Towns like Sullivan

Boonville7,689 people · $188K homes

Perryville8,536 people · $180K homes

Dexter7,891 people · $137K homes

Bonne Terre6,683 people · $153K homes

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.