Skip to content

Platte County

MO · Pop. 108,751 · Mixed County

44/100Homestead Score

Platte County sits in Missouri across 420 square miles, home to 108,751 people at 258.9 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, hay. A median home price of $318,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.06% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 191-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.4°F and average winter lows of 22°F. Annual rainfall averages 38.9 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Saint Luke's North Hospital is 9.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 1.06%
Growing Season: 191 days
Broadband: 97.8%
Density: 258.9/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 191-day growing season in USDA zone 6b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Saint Luke's North Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 9.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.4% reflects a stable local job base.
  • A low poverty rate of 6.8% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • At 258.9 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Platte County, MO is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
44/100
Median home price
$318k
Property tax
1.06%
Growing season
191 days (zone 6b)
Annual rainfall
38.9"
Broadband
97.8%
Nearest hospital
Saint Luke's North Hospital, 9.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.06%
Median Household Income$95,748
Poverty Rate6.8%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$318K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone6b
Growing Season191 days
Annual Rainfall38.9 inches
Avg Summer High86.4°F
Avg Winter Low22°F
Top CropsSoybeans, Corn, Hay

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire7/10
Tornado9/10
Flood7/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalSaint Luke's North Hospital (9.6 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage97.8%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.4%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Platte County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Platte County?
Platte County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 191-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.4°F, and average winter lows of 22°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, hay.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $318,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.06%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Saint Luke's North Hospital is 9.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

Explore Missouri Resources

Partner links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.