82 / 100

Cass County, MO

RANK #177 / 996  ·  POP 108,205  ·  MO

PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.2%

Cass County is one of America's fastest-growing metros, with explosive job creation driving its boom.

[01] Why Cass County?

Cass County, Missouri, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area, offers a blend of suburban and rural living. Harrisonville, the county seat, is about 35 miles south of Kansas City and holds historical significance from its founding in 1837. The county is notable for being home to the westernmost trailhead of the Katy Trail, a 287-mile recreational rail trail. Commuting to Kansas City is common, with an average one-way commute of 27.9 minutes. Public transportation options include bus services and a light rail line connecting towns like Harrisonville and Belton to Kansas City. The area features conservation areas like Bittern Bottoms and James R. Harter, offering opportunities for hiking, bird watching, and enjoying diverse habitats.

Life in Cass County often appeals to families and those seeking a community with access to outdoor activities. The public schools in Cass County are generally above average. Recent economic developments in towns like Harrisonville include efforts to revitalize downtown areas with new retail and apartment units, addressing a low housing vacancy rate. The county's economy is also supported by agricultural production, with a significant annual economic impact from crops and livestock. Additionally, there is ongoing investment in sectors such as data centers and energy.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
8.1x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.8%

Above national median

Home Prices
+5.6%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-1.7

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
12x

Below national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 8.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Cass County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
108,205
+1.16% YoY
Median Household Income
$82,473
Median Home Value
$242,300
+5.64% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,097
Average Annual Pay
$48,331
+3.2% YoY
Employment
30,655
+3.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3404
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.87%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$342,995
Days on Market
74
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.1
Balanced market
Listings w/ Price Drops
24.0%
Building Permits (2024)
600
Single-Family Permits
496

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,105M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Proposed Data Center (Peculiar)
Undisclosed
$500M Proposed
Cass Battery/Storage
Undisclosed (MISO interconnection queue)
$280M Planned
NextEra Energy Solar Project (near Harrison Hill)
NextEra Energy
$200M Proposed
Cass County Solar Project
Ameren Missouri (acquired from Savion Energy)
$125M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.8% 52 percentile
Population Growth +1.2% 76 percentile
Income Growth +7.2% 20 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.7% 84 percentile
Home Price Change +5.6% 93 percentile
Rent Growth +3.0% 51 percentile
Price/Rent 12x 67 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cass County, MO a good place to move to?

Cass County has a Boom Town Index score of 82/100, ranking #177 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.3% and a median household income of $82,473, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Cass County affordable?

The median home value in Cass County is $242,300 with median rent at $1,097/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3404, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Cass County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.3%. Home values changed +5.6% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Cass County?

Yes — 3.87% of Cass County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Erie County, PA 92 Kenosha County, WI 92 DuPage County, IL 92 Cass County, MI 92 Geauga County, OH 92 Champaign County, IL 92 Saratoga County, NY 92 Genesee County, MI 92