RANK #9 / 996 · POP 76,890 · MO
PROJECTED GROWTH: +4.8%
Cole County, Missouri, is defined by its role as home to Jefferson City, the state capital, which features the prominent Missouri State Capitol building overlooking the Missouri River. Located in central Missouri, the county is about a two-hour drive from both St. Louis and Kansas City. The community maintains a balance between urban and rural characteristics. Commutes within Cole County are shorter than the state average, with an average travel time of 18.4 minutes. The Missouri River forms the county's northern border, offering opportunities for water sports, fishing, and hiking along trails like the Katy Trail. Local parks, such as Binder Park, provide additional outdoor recreation with trails, fishing lakes, and disc golf courses.
Life in Cole County is characterized by a stable community with a focus on public services and education. The county is served by several public school districts, including Jefferson City Public Schools and Blair Oaks R-II School District, which are considered above average. The economy is largely driven by government, education, and healthcare sectors due to Jefferson City's status as the state capital and home to Lincoln University. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure and the redevelopment of the Missouri State Penitentiary site, which aims to create new business opportunities. There is also a growing interest in expanding sales tax to include services, which could impact county revenue.
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.6x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Web Services (AWS) "Project Green" Data Center Campus
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$35,000M | Proposed |
|
Google Data Center
Google
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Cole County Capital Improvements Program (Roads, Bridges, Stormwater)
Cole County
|
$33M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Cole County has a Boom Town Index score of 99/100, ranking #9 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.6% and a median household income of $70,667, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Cole County is $198,900 with median rent at $783/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3553, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.7% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.6%. Home values changed +6.6% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.29% of Cole County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.