No matter where you live in the United States, you’ll find Pros and Cons. New York has entertainment and finance but also harsh, cold winters. Miami has beautiful beaches but gets battered by the (increasingly common) hurricane. Lovely Eureka is the same, with plenty of Pros to go along with a handful of Cons on the list of Pros and Cons of living in Eureka, MO.
If you’re making a move to our city, knowing these excellent and not-so-good points can be very helpful. To that end, we’ve put together this list. We hope it helps you make the best choices for you and your family and makes your move here less stressful. Enjoy!
PRO: Living in Eureka Means Some of the Best Public Schools in America
If you have children and giving them an excellent education is essential to you, Eureka is perfect. Their public schools are rated A+, making them some of the best in the United States. In fact, out of the 18 public schools here, eight are rated this highly. That’s an excellent accomplishment and a definite benefit for young families. As far as the Pros and Cons of living in Eureka, MO, go, this is by far one of the best Pros.
CON: Living in Eureka Means a Small Town
If living the “big city” life is what you’re looking for, you might not find it in Eureka, MO. That’s because the city has less than 11,000 residents, making it one of the smallest in the United States. Smaller towns have fewer amenities like Broadway shows, professional sports teams, and so forth. Of course, it also means you have less of the problems that usually go along with big city life. Things like crime, a high cost of living, and pollution are much lower here, and most folks like it fine that way.
PRO: Living in Eureka Gets an A+ Grade in Several Categories
Many factors go into determining the overall “grade,” an American city will receive. Things like housing, jobs, the weather, crime and safety, and commute times, for example. The good news is that Eureka gets at least a B minus on all of the most critical factors. Here are some of Eureka’s excellent rankings:
- Suitable for Families / A+
- Public Schools / A+
- Jobs / A
- Housing Costs and Availability / A
- Outdoor Activities / A-
- Crime and Safety / B
- Diversity / B
- Health & Fitness / B
- Nightlife / B-
- Weather / B-
CON: Commute Time Living in Eureka is ‘Meh’
If you commute to work, you’ll spend about an hour on the road every day. That’s a little bit more than the national average. To be honest, though, it isn’t nearly as bad as cities like Los Angeles or New York. Indeed, Compared to those and other larger cities, the commute time here is a breeze. But, let’s face it, even a single hour spent fighting traffic is more than most folks want. As far as the Pros and Cons of living in Eureka, MO, go, this is a con we’re willing to look past.
PRO: Some Of Your Fave Foods Were Created in Missouri
If you are a foodie, living in Missouri will make your taste buds very happy. A lot of famous foods were created here and can be easily found in Eureka. Below are a few of the very best.
- St. Louis style pizza
- Toasted ravioli
- Kansas City barbecue
- Pork steak
- St. Louis style rib
- Ice cream cones
- Hot salami sandwiches
- Butter cake
- Deep-dish apple pie
- Provel cheese
CON: Home Values in Eureka, MO Are Higher U.S. Average
While Eureka isn’t one of the more expensive cities in the United States as far as home prices, it’s not the lowest either. The median home value here is just under $271,000. When you compare that to the national average of $185,000, that’s a rather large difference. When it comes to rent prices, it’s pretty much the same thing. The national average for rent is $949, whereas, in Eureka, it’s $1123. One statistic that does stand out is the number of people who own their homes rather than rent. In Eureka, 82% of the residents here own their home while only 18% rent.
While high home prices are a con on this list of Pros and Cons of Living in Eureka, there’s still a lot of opportunities to make a house your home here. It’s possible you’ll want to take on a DIY renovation project. We can’t resist a good home glow-up either. Instead of living in piles of stuff, check out storage units in Eureka, MO to help keep your precious items damage-free during reno!
PRO: The Crime Rate in Eureka is Quite Low
One of the best reasons to live in Eureka, MO, is that it’s very safe. For example, the violent crime of assault. Per 100,000 residents, the national average is 283. Here in Eureka, however, the average is just over 94. That means for every 100 thousand residents, only 94 are assaulted every year. (We’d rather the number be zero, but no city is perfect.) The good news is that violent crimes are practically nonexistent here in our safe city. Burglaries and motor vehicle theft are also relatively low, as well as robberies.
CON: Infrastructure in Eureka Needs an Upgrade
Over the last few decades, much of the population of Eureka has moved into the suburbs. This has led to a decline in people as well as the infrastructure, which needs an upgrade. Roads, bridges, and more aren’t terrible, but they aren’t pristine either.
PRO: Eureka’s Downtown is Making a Comeback
Recently, Eureka’s downtown has started to come back to life, with new construction, new restaurants, and more. A lot of new residential facilities are being made also, including lovely lofts in reclaimed warehouses. Several sports venues have also popped up, leading to the improvement of many of Eureka’s critical inner neighborhoods. By the way, when you arrive, we recommend storing your household goods in Eureka while you search for a home.
Eureka is, without a doubt, one of the friendliest, safest, and most affordable cities in Missouri, if not the U.S. Crime rates are very low, the weather is good most of the year, and houses are affordable. The education system here is one of the best in the country, too, which is a huge plus. Welcome!