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Greene County, MO

RANK #204 / 1001 NAT  ·  #7 / 22 MO  ·  POP 303,375

1YR FORECAST: +1.4%

5YR OUTLOOK: +21%

Our model projects Greene County's housing market to grow +1.4% over the next year, significantly outpacing the national average.

[01] Why Greene County?

Greene County, Missouri, is often recognized for Springfield, its largest city and the "Queen City of the Ozarks," which served as a significant stop on historic Route 66. Located in southwestern Missouri amid the rolling hills and woodlands of the Ozark Mountains, the county offers a blend of urban amenities and natural scenery. Commuting within the county is generally efficient, with an average travel time of under 20 minutes. The Springfield-Greene County Park Board manages over 100 park sites, trails, and facilities, including golf courses, family centers, and the Dickerson Park Zoo, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities. Ozark Greenways also offers over 73 miles of trails for biking, walking, and running.

Life in Greene County offers a balance of small-town charm and modern conveniences, with a strong sense of community. The area is considered affordable, with housing costs and overall living expenses lower than national averages. Public schools in Greene County are generally above average, with districts like Republic R-III and Fair Grove R-X receiving high ratings. The economy is diverse, with major sectors including healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Recent economic developments include ongoing investments in infrastructure and commercial projects, alongside efforts to expand high-speed internet access across rural areas.

MARKET PROFILE

Idiosyncratic Markets

Greene County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.1% YoY, population +0.8%, wages +1.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.

See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
6.4x

Below national median (11.3x)

Home Prices
+3.1%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
0.6

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Below national median (15x)

Housing is fairly valued at 6.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    CoxHealth Healthcare
    10,000+
  2. 2
    Mercy Health Springfield Healthcare
    5,000+
  3. 3
    Springfield Public Schools Education
    2,500+
  4. 4
    Walmart Retail
  5. 5
    Missouri State University Education
  6. 6
    Bass Pro Shops | Tracker Marine Retail
  7. 7
    United States Government Government
    1,000+
  8. 8
    State of Missouri Government
  9. 9
    City of Springfield Government
  10. 10
    O'Reilly Auto Parts Retail

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Greene County U.S. National

Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
303,375
+0.75% YoY
Median Household Income
$61,479
Median Home Value
$221,300
+3.08% 12mo
Median Rent
$989
Average Annual Pay
$58,102
+1.5% YoY
Employment
179,452
+0.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2778
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.54%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
33.6%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$266,100
Days on Market
17
Very hot — homes selling fast
Months of Supply
2.2
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
95.6%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
0.2%
Listings w/ Price Drops
29.1%
Building Permits (2025)
966
Single-Family Permits
729

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

[05] Crime & Safety

C
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
6.8
per 100K · nat avg 6.5
Firearm Fatalities
20.5
per 100K · nat avg 13.4
Injury Deaths
106.1
per 100K · nat avg 83.6
vs National Average
Near national avg
based on homicide rate
10-Year Trend
Up 94% since 2015
homicide rate, 2015 → 2025

Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →

See where Greene County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.

[06] Air Quality

B-
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
45.3
Good
Good Air Days
63%
690 of 1,095 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
6
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
PM2.5
Fine particulate matter
Yearly Trend
2021
38
2022
49
2023
49
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$10,292M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Project Hummingbird Data Center Campus
International Electric Power (IEP)
$10,000M Planned
Greene Battery/Storage Project
Sofos Power
$199M Planned
Hecate Energy Greene Solar Farm
Hecate Energy Greene 1 LLC, Hecate Energy Greene 2 LLC, and Hecate Energy Greene County 3 LLC
$50M Approved
Keystone Family Homes Rehabilitation Project
Knight Development and Housing Authority of the City of Springfield, Missouri (HAS)
$43M Under Construction

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

[08] Score Breakdown

Population Growth +0.8% 56 percentile
Income Growth +6.9% 98 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.9% 55 percentile
Home Price Change +3.1% 65 percentile
Rent Growth +5.1% 79 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 52 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Greene County ranks #204 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 80/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.6% and a median household income of $61,479 point to a county with active economic momentum.

Is Greene County affordable?

Housing in Greene County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $221,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $989/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Greene County growing or shrinking?

Greene County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.6%). Home values shifted +3.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.

Are people moving to Greene County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.54% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Greene County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Cape Girardeau County, MO 82 Pulaski County, MO 74 Cass County, MO 73 Cole County, MO 88 Jasper County, MO 89 Franklin County, MO 95 Yuma County, AZ 80 Genesee County, MI 80