Laclede County
MO · Pop. 36,245 · Suburban County
Laclede County sits in Missouri across 765 square miles, home to 36,245 people at 47.4 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $158,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.65%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 179-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.7°F and average winter lows of 23.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.3 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Mercy Hospital Lebanon is 2.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.65% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $158,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Mercy Hospital Lebanon, with an emergency room, is just 2.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 18.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Laclede County, MO is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 88/100
- Median home price
- $158k
- Property tax
- 0.65%
- Growing season
- 179 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 45.3"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Mercy Hospital Lebanon, 2.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Laclede County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Laclede County?
- Laclede County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 179-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.7°F, and average winter lows of 23.3°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $158,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.65%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Mercy Hospital Lebanon is 2.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Missouri Resources
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LandWatch
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More counties in Missouri
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The closest counties to Laclede County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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