MOMap-doton-Licking, 2004
Licking’s story
200 years in pictures
Census counts: 163 in 1880, 2,851 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 5 maps from 1949 on.
- 1826Licking is settled
LickingMO
A town of 2,958, settled in 1826.
Population
2,958
2025 Census estimate · +3.9% since 2020
Typical home
$198K
+7.7% in a year
Household income
$36K
median
Median age
37.9
years
Jobs based here
986
A job hub
TownGrade
C+
#134 of 247 in MO
Is Licking a good place to live?
Licking gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $198K, 4 years of the county’s $50K median household income. It grades C+ overall, 134th of 247 graded towns in Missouri. The low prices come with trade-offs. The median household income is $36K, and 38% of residents live below the poverty line, and residents are less healthy than 98% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. On the plus side, crime is low: it reports less per resident than 79% of U.S. towns. 38% of residents live below the poverty line in Licking, where Missouri’s towns sit at 14% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. On the outdoors, just 11 of Missouri’s 419 towns do worse. Licking's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 88% of U.S. towns.
What makes Licking stand out
Where Licking beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Licking1.3
Missouri4.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA−
70% less violent crime than MO
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Typical home value
Licking$198K
Missouri$265K
Cost of livingB+
More affordable than 72% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
32 measures vs. Missouri
1 better8 too close to call23 worse
| Widest gap | Licking | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 27% | 13.7% |
Worth knowing · HealthD−
Trails MO on 23 of 32 CDC measures, beats it on 1
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A job hub
Every workday, about 895 people come to Licking for work
Where Licking’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
986jobs based in Licking
16%of working residents work in town
36 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Licking grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Licking is from typical.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →HealthTexas County Memorial Hospital 13.8 miles awayD−Open →SafetyA−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 6.7% of households have no car; 2.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →SchoolsBeat 61% of Missouri districts on tests and graduationBOpen →Hazard riskcold waves tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksD−Open →History3 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life2.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 37.9; 6% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Licking: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Licking, and how to reach them.
PowerIntercounty Electric Coop Assn13.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTexas County Pwsd 4No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Licking’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 hereTexasTexas County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6554265542 100%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 Licking.
Licking trades lower home prices for longer drives to work, draws workers from Sherrill Township and beyond and fares better on crime within Missouri than nationally.
HealthD−
More of Licking’s adults smoke cigarettes than in the typical Missouri or U.S. town
Against the 1,364 U.S. towns with household incomes like Licking’s, it is less healthy than 79%, so its D− isn’t only a matter of income.
27% of Licking adults smoke cigarettes. Only 9 of the 247 Missouri towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Licking. 39% of Licking adults get no exercise outside work.
2%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Licking | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 17% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 22% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 30% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
1 better8 too close to call23 worse
| What stands out | Licking | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.6% | 8.6% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 27% | 13.7% |
Texas County Memorial Hospital
13.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
6th
percentile among MO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
About one in six working residents works right in Licking
986 jobs are based in Licking, 1.7 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
Most working residents leave Licking for work: only 16% work in town. Licking’s average trip to work is 18 minutes. Since 2013, Licking has lost 185 jobs, to 986 in 2023.
16%work in town
| Licking | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $36,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 16% | 13% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Licking16%
Rolla8%
Houston6%
Springfield5%
Sherrill Township4%
36 mi
median commute distance
986
jobs based in Licking
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 61% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyA−
Licking’s grade for safety is an A−
At 8.6 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 94% of Missouri’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 4 reported in 2025, 1.3 per 1,000 residents.
The property crime rate in Licking is 7.6 per 1,000 residents.
79%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Licking | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.6 per 1,000 residents | 12.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.3 per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Licking1.3
Missouri4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Licking7.6
Missouri16.9
U.S.15.5
79th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
94th
percentile among MO towns
4
violent crimes reported in 2025
23
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B+
Licking’s grade for cost of living is a B+
Homes are within reach (about $198K for the typical one, B+ for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 36 miles. 64.6% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 45.6% across Missouri.
53% of households own their home in Licking. Typical home values rose 7.7% in the year to September 2026.
$198KZillow home value
| Licking | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 53% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $657 a month | $972 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Licking$198K
Missouri$265K
+7.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Licking
Licking has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 23° and about 11 inches of snow falls in a winter.
11″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–45°
Spring44–67°
Summer64–86°
Fall45–68°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Moderate risk in Licking, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Licking.
54risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHeat waves
3
paid flood claims since 1978
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Licking
18pages on Licking
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 61% of MO districtsSafetyA−1.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD−Better than MO on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$198K typical home · up 7.7% in a yearWork & commuteD−$36K median household income · 986 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 54% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Licking; the nearest are
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · Rolla31.7 mi$14,984 in-state tuitionMissouri State University-West PlainsCommunity college · Public · West Plains53.3 mi$5,936 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Licking residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
Famous people from Licking
3 notable people were born in Licking.
About Licking
City in Texas County, Missouri, United States
Licking is a city located in Texas County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, Licking had a population of 2,851. It is the most populous city in Texas County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1826
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,263 ft
- ZIP code
- 65542
- Area code
- 573
Questions about Licking
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Licking, MO a good place to live?
Licking grades C+ overall, better than 40% of U.S. towns and #134 of 247 in Missouri. It grades D− for health, A− for safety and B for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Licking, MO expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is Licking, MO known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Richard Howard Ichord, Jr. and Orville Tuttle.