RANK #693 / 996 NAT · #18 / 22 MO · POP 66,814
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
St. Francois County, Missouri, stands out for its unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance, particularly evident in towns like Bonne Terre and Farmington. Bonne Terre is home to the historic Bonne Terre Mine, a former lead mine now famous for its underground lake and tours, including scuba diving opportunities. Located about an hour south of St. Louis, the county offers a community feel with access to outdoor recreation. St. Francois State Park, encompassing forested ridges and the Big River, provides extensive hiking, equestrian trails, canoeing, and camping. The region's landscape, part of the St. Francois Mountains, features rugged hills and clear streams. Life in St. Francois County offers a balance of small-town living with convenient access to larger city amenities. Public schools in the county are generally above average, with Farmington Senior High School and Jefferson Elementary School among the top-ranked. The economy is supported by sectors such as healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing, with employers like BJC Parkland Health Center and Farmington Correctional Center. Recent economic developments include infrastructure improvements in Farmington, with county and state contributions to road projects and a new roundabout.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.1x 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 30/100, St. Francois County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $53,083 combined with job growth of +3.3% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, St. Francois County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $141,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $748/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
It's a mixed picture in St. Francois County. The population is declining (-0.5% YoY), but employers are actually hiring — job growth is at +3.3%. Home values moved +1.2% 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 4.81% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Francois County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.