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Sedalia, MO

Sedalia, MO

Picturesque downtown area · Photo: Dave Herholz, CC BY-SA 2.0

A town of about 22,003 people in Pettis County.

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How Sedalia fits your quiz
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Sedalia

Sedalia station in September 2024
Sedalia station in September 2024 · Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
The Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia, Missouri
The Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia, Missouri · Photo: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Missouri State Fair entry gate
The Missouri State Fair entry gate · Photo: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Pettis County Courthouse in Sedalia, Missouri
The Pettis County Courthouse in Sedalia, Missouri · Photo: 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
Picturesque downtown area
Picturesque downtown area · Photo: Dave Herholz, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Around Sedalia

Where it is, what's close by, and trails.
Where it is
Sedalia
Sedalia in Missouri
Missouri in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Sedalia's center.

7
grocery stores
17
restaurants
1
coffee shop
22
parks
20
playgrounds
3
libraries
1
movie theater
3
live theaters
3
museums
4
bookstores
3
gyms
3
pharmacies
1
hospital

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Sedalia.

Bike lanes and bike paths
13 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
16 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 3,678 rented homes in Sedalia, 97% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 68%
$1,000 to $1,499: 26%
$1,500 to $1,999: 3%
$2,000 to $2,499: 1%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Sedalia rents for under $1,000 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about under $2,000 for first month plus a deposit, or up to under $3,000 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For rent under $1,000, that's a yearly income of about under $36,000.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Missouri: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Missouri DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Missouri voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

6 public school districts in this county, with about 6,690 students in all. The county also has 4 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Green Ridge Elem.Green Ridge HighNorthwest Elem.Northwest HighLa Monte Elem.La Monte HighPettis Co. Elem.Heber Hunt Elem.Horace Mann Elem.Smith-Cotton High SchoolWashington Elem.Sedalia Middle SchoolParkview Elem.Skyline Elem.Early Childhood Ctr.Smith Cotton Junior High SchlSmithton Elem.Smithton HighSacred Heart Elementary & High School (private)St Pauls Lutheran School (private)Applewood Christian School (private)Show-Me Christian School (private)COOPER COUNTYPETTIS COUNTYJOHNSON COUNTYMORGAN COUNTYSedalia
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Sedalia: Sedalia 200 School District
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Sedalia

Elementary
Horace Mann Elem.0.5 mi
Public
grades K to 4 · 239 students · 9.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 45 to 49%, math 55 to 59% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Heber Hunt Elem.0.7 mi
Public
grades K to 4 · 435 students · 12.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 45 to 49%, math 40 to 44% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Washington Elem.1.2 mi
Public
grades K to 4 · 209 students · 9.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 50 to 54%, math 45 to 49% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Middle
Smith Cotton Junior High Schl0.6 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 1,121 students · 13.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 33%, math 43% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Pettis Co. Elem.6.2 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 8 · 100 students · 6.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 25 to 29%, math 25 to 29% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Smithton Elem.7.9 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 6 · 299 students · 12.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 35 to 39%, math 40 to 44% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
High school
Smith-Cotton High School2.6 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,535 students · 17.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 57%, math 35% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Smithton High7.9 mi
Public
grades 7 to 12 · 223 students · 10.6 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 40 to 44%, math 45 to 49% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Northwest High10.0 mi
Public
grades 7 to 12 · 165 students · 11.8 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading 60 to 64%, math 60 to 64% (state: reading 43%, math 39%)
Private
Sacred Heart Elementary & High School0.3 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 310 students · 7.2 per teacher
St Pauls Lutheran School0.6 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 40 students · 6.9 per teacher
Applewood Christian School6.1 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 67 students · 4.2 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Sedalia, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Missouri's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Sedalia 200 · Sedalia
5,042 students · 13.5 students per teacher · 9 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Pettis Co. R-Xii · Sedalia
113 students · 6.6 students per teacher · 1 school · grades Pre-K to 8
Smithton R-Vi · Smithton
544 students · 11.6 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Green Ridge R-Viii · Green Ridge
368 students · 11.5 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades K to 12
Pettis Co. R-V · Hughesville
317 students · 13.2 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Missouri

Going to school in another district
Some districts must accept students from other districts (for example, from struggling schools), and others choose whether to. Ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law lets each district decide whether families can pick a different school within the district.
Free state pre-K
22% of 4-year-olds and 3% of 3-year-olds in Missouri attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Missouri keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Missouri →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

One college in the county around Sedalia. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

State Fair Community College · Sedalia
Public, 2-year (community college) · 3,754 students · $4,104 in-district, $7,248 out-of-state

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Homeowners insurance
About $3,979 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in MO. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
1 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
Fewer than 10 a year
The CDC doesn't publish exact counts under 10. MO average: 19.4 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 6.8 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 2,012 people without housing in the Missouri Balance of State area (101 counties): 1,204 in shelters and 808 outside, up from 1,911 in 2024. MO: 13.4 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$60,232
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.78% of home value a year
About $780 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 4.70%
MO's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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