Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Missouri

Best Places to Live in Missouri

Every Missouri county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Texas County leads at 81/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Missouri ranks #7 for homesteading and #11 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Missouri

    How Missouri treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 115 Missouri counties, ranked

    1. 1Texas County81
    2. 2Dallas County80
    3. 3Bollinger County80
    4. 4Sullivan County80
    5. 5Macon County79
    6. 6Laclede County79
    7. 7Schuyler County79
    8. 8Adair County79
    9. 9Randolph County79
    10. 10Phelps County79
    11. 11Howell County78
    12. 12Douglas County78
    13. 13Crawford County78
    14. 14Wright County78
    15. 15Putnam County77
    16. 16Dent County77
    17. 17Polk County77
    18. 18Lewis County77
    19. 19Ozark County77
    20. 20Cedar County76
    21. 21Shelby County76
    22. 22Webster County76
    23. 23Linn County76
    24. 24Dade County76
    25. 25Oregon County76
    26. 26St. Clair County75
    27. 27Scotland County75
    28. 28Mercer County75
    29. 29Ripley County75
    30. 30Bates County75
    31. 31Hickory County74
    32. 32Harrison County74
    33. 33Henry County74
    34. 34Pulaski County74
    35. 35Daviess County74
    36. 36Madison County74
    37. 37Clark County73
    38. 38Grundy County73
    39. 39Andrew County73
    40. 40Wayne County73
    41. 41Cape Girardeau County73
    42. 42Gentry County73
    43. 43Butler County73
    44. 44Howard County73
    45. 45Worth County73
    46. 46Chariton County72
    47. 47Morgan County72
    48. 48Audrain County72
    49. 49Washington County72
    50. 50Miller County72
    51. 51Saline County72
    52. 52Benton County72
    53. 53DeKalb County72
    54. 54Gasconade County71
    55. 55Pike County71
    56. 56Shannon County71
    57. 57Moniteau County71
    58. 58Osage County71
    59. 59Perry County70
    60. 60Warren County70
    61. 61Reynolds County70
    62. 62Knox County70
    63. 63Barry County70
    64. 64Vernon County70
    65. 65Iron County70
    66. 66Scott County69
    67. 67Carter County69
    68. 68Monroe County69
    69. 69Ray County68
    70. 70Cooper County68
    71. 71Maries County68
    72. 72Johnson County68
    73. 73Nodaway County67
    74. 74St. Francois County67
    75. 75Livingston County67
    76. 76Lincoln County67
    77. 77McDonald County67
    78. 78Stoddard County66
    79. 79Carroll County66
    80. 80Franklin County66
    81. 81Marion County66
    82. 82Pettis County66
    83. 83Lawrence County65
    84. 84Callaway County65
    85. 85Ralls County65
    86. 86Camden County64
    87. 87Montgomery County64
    88. 88Ste. Genevieve County64
    89. 89Caldwell County64
    90. 90Barton County62
    91. 91Atchison County62
    92. 92Boone County62
    93. 93Holt County61
    94. 94Stone County61
    95. 95Taney County60
    96. 96Lafayette County60
    97. 97Cole County60
    98. 98Newton County59
    99. 99Cass County58
    100. 100Christian County58
    101. 101Greene County57
    102. 102Mississippi County57
    103. 103Clinton County56
    104. 104Pemiscot County56
    105. 105Jasper County56
    106. 106Dunklin County54
    107. 107Buchanan County54
    108. 108St. Charles County52
    109. 109Jefferson County52
    110. 110New Madrid County52
    111. 111Platte County48
    112. 112Jackson County47
    113. 113Clay County45
    114. 114St. Louis County43
    115. 115St. Louis City26

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