Jefferson
RANK #95 / 996 NAT · #7 / 22 MO · POP 76,890
1YR FORECAST: +5.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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 ranks #95 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 90/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.6% and a median household income of $70,667 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Cole County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $198,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $783/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
It's a mixed picture in Cole County. The population is declining (-0.7% YoY), but employers are actually hiring — job growth is at +1.6%. Home values moved +6.6% in the last year. That tension between shrinking population and expanding employment often signals a county in transition.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.29% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cole County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.6% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Cole County is now valued at $198,900. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.