[squarebarb]

I'm from Missouri (show me)--- many generations in the Ozarks. As for home prices and taxes I am not sure. Sorry. As for the military retirement tax, sorry again. If you are retired military and are looking for the nearest PX - BX that would be Whiteman Air Force Base in Warrensburg. I suspect that the prices of homes in SW Mo. should be very reasonable.

The area is typical small-town and your schools should be good around Springfield. Economy tends to be self-generated in the small town areas. Branson of course employs many in its tourist industry (Silver Dollar City, as well as the big shows in Branson and tourist economy around Bull Shoals Lake, Table Rock). The extreme southwest corner of Missouri I would not suggest as it is almost entirely farming/cattle. Check in around Springfield. Battle Creek area is new homes, moderately priced and very lovely. My cousin has a woodcrafting operation there. Also lots of snowbirds and newcomers have moved in and it's a nice mix.It used to be very clannish (I know, I am from one of the clans) but not so now.

The weather is generally pretty good, nothing like the winters you're used to. Not more than one or two snows a year. Tornadoes, however, are truly exciting and as much fun as a horror show at the drive-in. Springfield is in the Ozarks but is actually on a plateau.

If you are retired military, look around the Rolla/Fort Leonard Wood area. Rolla is on the St. James River and Big Piney Creek, again a wonderful recreational area and with the School of Mines (U. of Mo.) in Rolla a nice mix of University and military. Home prices are, I think, reasonable everywhere in Mo. except St. Louis suburbs and K.C. suburbs but you don't want to go live there anyway.

Google Real Estate and Taxes on Springfield and county and Rolla and County. Good luck!

[jembows]

Used to live in Rolla too, but I would consider that more of a college town. UMR is located there. Wouldn't the military base closest to there be Ft. Leonard Wood? Where is Whiteman?

[Danette]

Thanks so much for your replies. We just picked out southwest MO because it's a halfway point between MN and TX (families). We drove through Springfield during vacation a couple years ago and thought it was nice, but we didn't have time to see very much.

Where would YOU live if could in southwest MO?


*We would love a rural SMALL town to live. We live in rural MN.
*Reasonable housing prices.
*Friendly.
*Good school district (have a 13 year old with 4.00).
*Job is really not a must. Minimum wage is fine for something to do during retirement.

We don't want to make a mistake in choosing our FINAL move. Your replies are APPRECIATED.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

"Tornadoes, however, are truly exciting and as much fun as a horror show at the drive-in."

We had tornadoes in K.C., MO, in May 2003. Tornadoes may be fun if you don't lose your home, your job, your livelihood, or your loved ones.