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 79/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Missouri ranks #8 for homesteading and #15 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 County79
    2. 2Dallas County79
    3. 3Bollinger County78
    4. 4Sullivan County78
    5. 5Macon County78
    6. 6Laclede County77
    7. 7Schuyler County77
    8. 8Adair County77
    9. 9Randolph County77
    10. 10Phelps County77
    11. 11Howell County76
    12. 12Douglas County76
    13. 13Crawford County76
    14. 14Dent County76
    15. 15Putnam County76
    16. 16Wright County76
    17. 17Ozark County75
    18. 18Lewis County75
    19. 19Polk County75
    20. 20Oregon County74
    21. 21Cedar County74
    22. 22Shelby County74
    23. 23Linn County74
    24. 24Dade County74
    25. 25Webster County74
    26. 26St. Clair County74
    27. 27Ripley County73
    28. 28Scotland County73
    29. 29Mercer County73
    30. 30Hickory County72
    31. 31Harrison County72
    32. 32Bates County72
    33. 33Pulaski County72
    34. 34Madison County72
    35. 35Daviess County72
    36. 36Henry County72
    37. 37Wayne County71
    38. 38Clark County71
    39. 39Grundy County71
    40. 40Cape Girardeau County71
    41. 41Butler County71
    42. 42Gentry County71
    43. 43Andrew County71
    44. 44Pike County71
    45. 45Worth County71
    46. 46Chariton County71
    47. 47Howard County71
    48. 48Morgan County70
    49. 49Washington County70
    50. 50Miller County70
    51. 51Audrain County70
    52. 52Benton County70
    53. 53Saline County70
    54. 54DeKalb County70
    55. 55Shannon County70
    56. 56Gasconade County69
    57. 57Osage County69
    58. 58Moniteau County69
    59. 59Reynolds County69
    60. 60Perry County68
    61. 61Warren County68
    62. 62Knox County68
    63. 63Iron County68
    64. 64Barry County68
    65. 65Carter County68
    66. 66Vernon County68
    67. 67Monroe County67
    68. 68Scott County67
    69. 69McDonald County67
    70. 70Maries County66
    71. 71St. Francois County66
    72. 72Cooper County65
    73. 73Livingston County65
    74. 74Johnson County65
    75. 75Nodaway County65
    76. 76Ray County65
    77. 77Stoddard County64
    78. 78Carroll County64
    79. 79Franklin County64
    80. 80Lincoln County64
    81. 81Marion County64
    82. 82Pettis County63
    83. 83Ralls County63
    84. 84Callaway County63
    85. 85Lawrence County63
    86. 86Taney County63
    87. 87Camden County62
    88. 88Montgomery County62
    89. 89Ste. Genevieve County62
    90. 90Caldwell County61
    91. 91Barton County60
    92. 92Atchison County60
    93. 93Boone County60
    94. 94Holt County59
    95. 95Stone County59
    96. 96Cole County58
    97. 97Lafayette County58
    98. 98Newton County57
    99. 99Christian County56
    100. 100Cass County56
    101. 101Greene County56
    102. 102Mississippi County55
    103. 103Pemiscot County54
    104. 104Jasper County54
    105. 105Clinton County54
    106. 106Dunklin County52
    107. 107Buchanan County52
    108. 108St. Charles County50
    109. 109Jefferson County50
    110. 110New Madrid County50
    111. 111Platte County46
    112. 112Jackson County45
    113. 113Clay County44
    114. 114St. Louis County41
    115. 115St. Louis City24

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