HEAD TO HEAD
Joplin vs St. Louis
Joplin leads St. Louis on 4 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Joplin, MO
wins 4 of 5 factors
St. Louis, MO
wins 1 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Joplin | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 92 ◆ | 89 |
| Affordable to rent | 83 ◆ | 78 |
| Climate comfort | 69 ◆ | 63 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 54 ◆ | 48 |
| Big-city amenities | 41 | 95 ◆ |
By the numbers
| Figure | Joplin | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $227K | $277K |
| Typical rent | $1,312/mo | $1,451/mo |
| Average temperature | 14°C | 13.1°C |
| Sunshine (solar energy) | 4.38 kWh/m²/day | 4.17 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank (US) | #243 | #21 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.