Skip to content

Worth County

MO · Pop. 1,956 · Rural County

82/100Homestead Score

Worth County is a rural county in Missouri, spanning 267 square miles with 1,956 residents at a density of 7.3 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, soybeans, corn. A median home price of $95,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.8% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 83.6°F and average winter lows of 15.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 36 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Mosaic Medical Center - Albany is 16.5 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.8%
Growing Season: 166 days
Broadband: 97.8%
Density: 7.3/sq mi

Pros

  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.8% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $95,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • At 7.3 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.4% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • The nearest hospital, Mosaic Medical Center - Albany, is 16.5 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
  • At 7.3 people per square mile, services, labor, and suppliers are spread thin.

At a glance

Worth County, MO is a strong overall fit for homesteading.

Homestead score
82/100
Median home price
$95k
Property tax
0.8%
Growing season
166 days (zone 5b)
Annual rainfall
36"
Broadband
97.8%
Nearest hospital
Mosaic Medical Center - Albany, 16.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.8%
Median Household Income$46,167
Poverty Rate17.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$95K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone5b
Growing Season166 days
Annual Rainfall36 inches
Avg Summer High83.6°F
Avg Winter Low15.6°F
Top CropsHay, Soybeans, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought7/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado3/10
Flood1/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalMosaic Medical Center - Albany (16.5 mi)
Emergency RoomNo
Healthcare Facilities0

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage97.8%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.4%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Worth County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Worth County?
Worth County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 166-day growing season, average summer highs of 83.6°F, and average winter lows of 15.6°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $95,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.8%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Mosaic Medical Center - Albany is 16.5 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.

Explore Missouri Resources

Partner links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Nearby counties

The closest counties to Worth 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.