Liberal is a city in Barton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 629 at the 2020 census. Liberal was founded as an atheist utopia in 1880 by George Wasler, who named it after the Liberal League in nearby Lamar. The city had restrictions on both religious buildings and saloons, instead offering intellectual pursuits. A contingent of Christian residents moved to the town and began holding religious services against Walser's wishes, and eventually took hold of the settlement.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code64762

Area code417

Living in Liberal

Housing in Liberal

$206K▲ 3.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Liberal home is worth about $206,000, up 3.7% in a year, 23% below the Missouri typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Liberal

—

Not graded

Liberal has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent0

Property4

Reported in 20254

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Liberal

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Liberal for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are Pittsburg (12%), Lamar (9%) and Joplin (6%). Half commute less than 27 miles.

Pittsburg, KS

12%

Lamar

Joplin

Springfield

8%Work in townlive and work in Liberal 27 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 158Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Liberal →

Health in Liberal

Compared with Missouri

5worse than MO

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 27 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▼ 10 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

21.9%More older adults who have lost all their teethMO 15.8% · worse 10.2%More adults with COPDMO 8% · worse 19.9%More smokersMO 16% · worse

Care nearby

Cox Barton County HospitalLamar · 12.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas/ArmaArma · 10 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Liberal · CMS · HRSAHealth in Liberal →

Natural hazards in Liberal

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌵 Drought🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Liberal flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Liberal

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Liberal →

Climate in Liberal

Full climate →

Liberal has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 7 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

46° / 27°Winter

68° / 46°Spring

88° / 67°Summer

70° / 48°Fall