Standard atlas of Bates County, Missouri
Foster’s story
143 years in pictures
Census counts: 513 in 1890, 76 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper and 3 maps from 1938 on.
- 1883Foster is settled
FosterMO
A town of 80, settled in 1883.
Population
80
2025 Census estimate · +2.6% since 2020
Median home value
$75K
Census ACS
Median age
58.8
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Foster a good place to live?
Foster’s average trip to work is 37 minutes, where Missouri’s towns sit at 22 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Of the 248 Missouri towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Foster. Foster has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
80 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Foster: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Foster, and how to reach them.
PowerEvergy12.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBates County Pwsd 41 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Foster’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBatesBates County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2021
ZIP codes64745, 6477964745 83% · 64779 17%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Foster.
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Foster
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Foster has four seasons and hot summers
Foster has chilly winters and warm summers. At 90°F, Foster’s July high is against 88°F in Missouri’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–44°
Spring45–67°
Summer67–88°
Fall47–69°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 12
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Foster is
Foster beats the Missouri average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 29% of adults feel lonely in Foster.
| Foster | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 37% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
3 better23 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Foster | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 12.3% | 15.8% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 7% | 8.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 10% | 8% |
Bates County Memorial Hospital
10.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Foster
14pages on Foster
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Foster; the nearest are
Cottey CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Nevada24 mi$27,562 tuitionFort Scott Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fort Scott, KS26.7 mi$3,390 in-state tuitionPittsburg State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Pittsburg, KS54.6 mi$8,400 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Foster residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
About Foster
Village in Missouri, United States
Foster is a village in Bates County, Missouri, and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the United States. The population was 76 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 846 ft
- ZIP code
- 64745
Questions about Foster
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Foster, MO a good place to live?
Foster has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.