Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Pierce City’s best subject grades are an A for cost of living and an A− for history; its weakest is a D for health. 32% of residents live below the poverty line in Pierce City, where Missouri’s towns sit at 14% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Of the 171 Missouri towns we compare, none has a lower property crime rate than Pierce City. The median household income is $51K, and 32% of residents live below the poverty line. Only 12 of Missouri’s 390 towns score lower on civic life. Pierce City has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Jolly Mill and Lawrence County Bank Building. Pierce City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Pierce City beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Pierce City is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 432 in 1870, a peak of 2,511 in 1890, 1,251 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2020.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Pierce City, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Pierce City.
Pierce City beats the Missouri average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 22% of adults smoke cigarettes in Pierce City, against 17% in Missouri’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. 18% of adults report frequent physical distress in Pierce City.
| Pierce City | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 30% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 22% | 19% |
| What stands out | Pierce City | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.1% | 8% |
| More smokers | 21.5% | 16% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 18.3% | 13.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by Pierce City R-VI. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 341 | C− |
| Pierce City HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 205 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduation
The typical Pierce City home is worth about $128,000, down 6.6% in a year, 52% below the Missouri typical home. The median rent in Pierce City is $776 a month.
| Pierce City | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $776 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 66% | 64% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Most working residents leave Pierce City for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Monett (29%), Springfield (12%) and Joplin (5%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
| Pierce City | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.3% | 13% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 78% of U.S. communities. Since 1995, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Pierce City.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Pierce City has chilly winters and warm summers. Pierce City’s July high is 89°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Pierce City's reported crime rate is well below Missouri's. No violent crimes were reported in 2025.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pierce City Park | — | 11 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Pierce City; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Pierce City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
Where Pierce City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Missouri, United States
Pierce City, formerly Peirce City, is a city in southwest Lawrence and northwest Barry counties, in southwest Missouri, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2020 census. According to the 2024 census population estimate, the town is home to an estimated 1,272 individuals.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
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 A.