Market rankings · Missouri
Child care centers and preschools in Missouri
Markets across Missouri ranked by the Groundwork market score for child care centers and preschools, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 1,474
- 174 chain locations (12%)
- Official establishments
- 1,463
- −2.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1B
- On child care and other personal services
- Listings per 10k households
- 5.9
- 2% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $679K
- 32% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #45 of 51
- Market score 29 · Lower middle
A site report maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings around any address in Missouri by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Map listings as of September 2026 show 1,474 child care centers and preschools in Missouri. Chain locations make up 12% of them, against 12% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 5.9, 2% above the U.S. rate of 5.8.
At $399 per household (31% below the U.S. average), households in Missouri spend about $1B a year on child care and other personal services. That works out to $679K per center, 32% below the U.S. figure of $1M.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as child care services in Missouri was 1,463 in 2023, down 2.2% from 2019. That is one for every 1,714 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 84 SBA-backed loans worth $52.3M have gone to businesses classed as child care services in Missouri.
Among the 50 states and DC, Missouri ranks #45 for child care centers and preschools, with a Groundwork market score of 29 (lower middle). Of the 8 scored metro areas in or partly in Missouri, the Kansas City metro area scores highest (47). Of the 16 scored small-town markets in or partly in Missouri, the Branson area scores highest (65).
Every market in Missouri for child care centers and preschools
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Missouri, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kansas City, MO-KS | 47 | 539 | 6.0 | $778K | +3.4% | #223 of 387 |
| 2St. Joseph, MO-KS | 40 | 17 | 3.6 | $957K | −2.0% | #260 of 387 |
| 3Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 39 | 15 | 3.9 | $915K | +1.7% | #271 of 387 |
| 4Springfield, MO | 39 | 111 | 5.6 | $630K | +5.1% | #274 of 387 |
| 5St. Louis, MO-IL | 38 | 665 | 5.7 | $804K | −0.2% | #280 of 387 |
| 6Joplin, MO-KS | 28 | 55 | 6.9 | $471K | +3.9% | #343 of 387 |
| 7Columbia, MO | 24 | 68 | 7.9 | $524K | +3.9% | #364 of 387 |
| 8Jefferson City, MO | 16 | 58 | 9.9 | $385K | +2.2% | #379 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Branson, MO | 65 | 7 | 3.1 | $1M | +1.7% | #114 of 454 |
| 2Kirksville, MO | 52 | 6 | 5.8 | $585K | +1.9% | #220 of 454 |
| 3Lebanon, MO | 48 | 7 | 4.8 | $576K | +2.5% | #250 of 454 |
| 4Rolla, MO | 46 | 9 | 5.2 | $626K | +1.6% | #270 of 454 |
| Quincy, IL-MO | 46 | 18 | 5.8 | $601K | −2.0% | #271 of 454 |
| 5Sedalia, MO | 41 | 8 | 4.7 | $656K | +2.9% | #308 of 454 |
| 6Warrensburg, MO | 36 | 14 | 6.6 | $500K | +4.9% | #348 of 454 |
| 7Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 34 | 9 | 5.3 | $599K | +0.8% | #357 of 454 |
| 8Hannibal, MO | 29 | 10 | 6.5 | $493K | +0.4% | #389 of 454 |
| 9West Plains, MO | 26 | 10 | 6.3 | $456K | +2.5% | #402 of 454 |
| 10Sikeston, MO | 18 | 17 | 8.6 | $371K | −0.3% | #430 of 454 |
| 11Kennett, MO | 17 | 5 | 4.4 | $611K | −4.8% | #431 of 454 |
| 12Farmington, MO | 17 | 21 | 8.5 | $360K | +2.1% | #433 of 454 |
| 13Moberly, MO | 16 | 7 | 7.6 | $377K | +0.2% | #435 of 454 |
| 14Poplar Bluff, MO | 14 | 11 | 6.6 | $428K | −0.4% | #439 of 454 |
| 15Marshall, MO | 13 | 6 | 7.5 | $407K | −0.3% | #442 of 454 |
| Mexico, MO | Not scored | 4 | 4.3 | $709K | −1.0% | |
| Maryville, MO | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $864K | −4.0% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Warren County, MO | 75 | 6 | 4.3 | $981K | +9.2% | #167 of 1,611 |
| 2Lincoln County, MO | 67 | 13 | 5.7 | $748K | +11.4% | #351 of 1,611 |
| 3Platte County, MO | 65 | 28 | 6.4 | $839K | +6.7% | #405 of 1,611 |
| 4Cass County, MO | 64 | 25 | 5.8 | $782K | +7.1% | #440 of 1,611 |
| 5Jefferson County, MO | 63 | 38 | 4.3 | $971K | +2.7% | #458 of 1,611 |
| 6Clay County, MO | 63 | 52 | 5.1 | $901K | +4.3% | #464 of 1,611 |
| 7St. Charles County, MO | 63 | 100 | 6.2 | $900K | +4.9% | #465 of 1,611 |
| 8Camden County, MO | 61 | 7 | 3.9 | $984K | +2.9% | #520 of 1,611 |
| 9Taney County, MO | 59 | 7 | 3.1 | $1M | +1.7% | #572 of 1,611 |
| 10Franklin County, MO | 58 | 16 | 3.7 | $1M | +3.1% | #604 of 1,611 |
| 11Lawrence County, MO | 55 | 5 | 3.4 | $913K | +3.7% | #688 of 1,611 |
| 12Christian County, MO | 55 | 24 | 6.8 | $611K | +8.3% | #700 of 1,611 |
| 13Barry County, MO | 50 | 7 | 5.2 | $617K | +4.8% | #833 of 1,611 |
| 14Cape Girardeau County, MO | 49 | 13 | 4.0 | $923K | +2.7% | #842 of 1,611 |
| 15Stone County, MO | 47 | 9 | 6.7 | $498K | +4.1% | #913 of 1,611 |
| 16Greene County, MO | 44 | 70 | 5.3 | $634K | +3.3% | #988 of 1,611 |
| 17Laclede County, MO | 43 | 7 | 4.8 | $576K | +2.5% | #1,025 of 1,611 |
| 18Polk County, MO | 43 | 8 | 6.6 | $496K | +6.3% | #1,026 of 1,611 |
| 19St. Louis County, MO | 42 | 278 | 6.7 | $747K | −1.2% | #1,036 of 1,611 |
| 20Buchanan County, MO | 41 | 13 | 3.9 | $870K | −1.1% | #1,060 of 1,611 |
| 21Jackson County, MO | 41 | 170 | 5.5 | $700K | +2.1% | #1,069 of 1,611 |
| 22Phelps County, MO | 41 | 9 | 5.2 | $626K | +1.6% | #1,079 of 1,611 |
| 23Adair County, MO | 41 | 6 | 6.6 | $527K | +1.6% | #1,085 of 1,611 |
| 24Webster County, MO | 39 | 9 | 6.4 | $544K | +10.4% | #1,133 of 1,611 |
| 25Lafayette County, MO | 37 | 7 | 5.6 | $724K | +1.4% | #1,162 of 1,611 |
Show all 115 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26McDonald County, MO | 36 | 7 | 8.2 | $349K | +3.1% | #1,204 of 1,611 |
| 27Ray County, MO | 35 | 5 | 5.5 | $688K | +1.1% | #1,214 of 1,611 |
| 28Pettis County, MO | 35 | 8 | 4.7 | $656K | +2.9% | #1,216 of 1,611 |
| 29Jasper County, MO | 35 | 35 | 7.1 | $454K | +3.7% | #1,234 of 1,611 |
| 30Newton County, MO | 34 | 16 | 7.2 | $481K | +6.1% | #1,257 of 1,611 |
| 31Boone County, MO | 32 | 63 | 8.2 | $513K | +4.2% | #1,302 of 1,611 |
| 32Callaway County, MO | 31 | 10 | 6.1 | $597K | +3.2% | #1,312 of 1,611 |
| 33Johnson County, MO | 30 | 14 | 6.6 | $500K | +4.9% | #1,336 of 1,611 |
| 34Pulaski County, MO | 29 | 9 | 5.3 | $599K | +0.8% | #1,352 of 1,611 |
| 35Marion County, MO | 29 | 9 | 7.9 | $397K | +0.2% | #1,364 of 1,611 |
| 36Cole County, MO | 25 | 30 | 9.7 | $419K | +1.7% | #1,420 of 1,611 |
| 37Howell County, MO | 23 | 10 | 6.3 | $456K | +2.5% | #1,444 of 1,611 |
| 38Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 23 | 7 | 9.8 | $375K | +1.1% | #1,446 of 1,611 |
| 39Washington County, MO | 21 | 6 | 6.7 | $436K | +1.6% | #1,471 of 1,611 |
| 40Miller County, MO | 21 | 9 | 9.1 | $336K | +4.2% | #1,473 of 1,611 |
| 41Pike County, MO | 20 | 5 | 7.8 | $387K | +3.1% | #1,489 of 1,611 |
| 42Osage County, MO | 20 | 9 | 17.0 | $228K | +2.7% | #1,496 of 1,611 |
| 43St. Louis city, MO | 19 | 88 | 6.1 | $587K | −7.4% | #1,497 of 1,611 |
| 44Stoddard County, MO | 16 | 7 | 6.0 | $494K | −1.3% | #1,536 of 1,611 |
| 45Scott County, MO | 16 | 16 | 10.4 | $321K | −0.1% | #1,542 of 1,611 |
| 46Livingston County, MO | 16 | 6 | 10.7 | $316K | +1.1% | #1,545 of 1,611 |
| 47Gasconade County, MO | 15 | 5 | 8.2 | $396K | +0.1% | #1,549 of 1,611 |
| 48Dunklin County, MO | 14 | 5 | 4.4 | $611K | −4.8% | #1,554 of 1,611 |
| 49Randolph County, MO | 14 | 7 | 7.6 | $377K | +0.2% | #1,556 of 1,611 |
| 50St. Francois County, MO | 14 | 21 | 8.5 | $360K | +2.1% | #1,558 of 1,611 |
| 51Madison County, MO | 14 | 6 | 12.8 | $239K | +1.9% | #1,561 of 1,611 |
| 52Perry County, MO | 12 | 10 | 13.3 | $269K | +0.6% | #1,571 of 1,611 |
| 53Butler County, MO | 11 | 11 | 6.6 | $428K | −0.4% | #1,574 of 1,611 |
| 54Saline County, MO | 11 | 6 | 7.5 | $407K | −0.3% | #1,575 of 1,611 |
| 55Moniteau County, MO | 10 | 9 | 15.7 | $198K | +1.4% | #1,584 of 1,611 |
| Texas County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 4.2 | $603K | +6.9% | |
| Audrain County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 4.3 | $709K | −1.0% | |
| Crawford County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $1.5M | −0.4% | |
| Henry County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $1.3M | +3.2% | |
| Morgan County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $2.8M | +6.8% | |
| Clinton County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 4.8 | $783K | +2.1% | |
| Nodaway County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $864K | −4.0% | |
| Benton County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $784K | +5.7% | |
| Vernon County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 2.6 | $1M | +1.5% | |
| Wright County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 4.2 | $663K | +8.0% | |
| Andrew County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $1.3M | +0.7% | |
| Dallas County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.2% | |
| Cooper County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 6.4 | $525K | +3.0% | |
| Bates County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $1.9M | +2.9% | |
| New Madrid County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $664K | −7.6% | |
| Macon County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 6.6 | $430K | −0.1% | |
| Pemiscot County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $455K | −7.2% | |
| Cedar County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $517K | +4.8% | |
| Dent County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 5.3 | $515K | +1.3% | |
| Douglas County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.4% | |
| Mississippi County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $1.2M | −1.1% | |
| Linn County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 4.2 | $830K | −0.3% | |
| Barton County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +1.5% | |
| Montgomery County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 6.5 | $499K | +2.6% | |
| DeKalb County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.7 | $1.3M | −15.6% | |
| Wayne County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 4.3 | $571K | −1.4% | |
| Ripley County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $965K | +0.4% | |
| Bollinger County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $1.1M | +0.9% | |
| Ralls County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $1.4M | +0.9% | |
| Howard County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.8 | $1.2M | +0.3% | |
| Lewis County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 3.1 | $1M | −1.6% | |
| Grundy County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.6 | $1.1M | −0.2% | |
| St. Clair County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +6.7% | |
| Iron County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.6 | $1M | −2.0% | |
| Caldwell County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 5.3 | $597K | +2.1% | |
| Ozark County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 5.4 | $516K | +7.7% | |
| Monroe County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 2.9 | $1.1M | +3.1% | |
| Oregon County, MO | Not scored | 3 | 8.9 | $288K | +1.2% | |
| Hickory County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +8.9% | |
| Daviess County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 3.3 | $1M | +1.5% | |
| Maries County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.7% | |
| Carroll County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 11.4 | $261K | −0.6% | |
| Harrison County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 6.3 | $440K | +1.5% | |
| Dade County, MO | Not scored | 2 | 6.5 | $415K | +2.9% | |
| Chariton County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.1% | |
| Shannon County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 3.5 | $749K | +3.6% | |
| Clark County, MO | Not scored | 4 | 16.5 | $177K | −2.8% | |
| Gentry County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 4.1 | $662K | +4.2% | |
| Reynolds County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.4% | |
| Shelby County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 4.2 | $666K | −3.6% | |
| Sullivan County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 4.9 | $602K | −4.1% | |
| Carter County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 4.9 | $550K | +4.2% | |
| Atchison County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 4.4 | $672K | −2.5% | |
| Scotland County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 6.5 | $516K | +2.1% | |
| Putnam County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.0% | |
| Holt County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +0.4% | |
| Schuyler County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +3.3% | |
| Knox County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 7.8 | $403K | −0.1% | |
| Mercer County, MO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −3.2% | |
| Worth County, MO | Not scored | 1 | 11.8 | $230K | −2.6% |
Markets with fewer than 5 child care centers and preschools on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many child care centers and preschools are in Missouri?
There are 1,474 child care centers and preschools on map listings in Missouri as of September 2026. 174 of them (12%) are chain locations. The listings count day care centers and preschools. Official counts show 1,463 businesses with payroll classed as child care services in 2023, down 2.2% from 2019. Official counts list 8,419 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Missouri spend on child care and other personal services?
About $1B a year, or $399 per household. That is 31% below the U.S. average (an index of 69, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 1,474 child care centers and preschools on map listings, it comes to $679K per center. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,508,227 households in Missouri and national spending patterns by income.
How does Missouri compare with the U.S. for child care centers and preschools?
Missouri has 5.9 child care centers and preschools per 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 5.8. Spending per center is $679K, 32% below the U.S. figure of $1M. At the national ratio of child care centers and preschools to household spending, Missouri would have about 999, against 1,474 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,714 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. The official count fell 2.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.7% for the U.S.
Which market in Missouri has the highest market score for child care centers and preschools?
Among 8 scored metro areas in or partly in Missouri, the Kansas City metro area scores highest, at 47 (lower middle). Among 16 scored small-town markets in or partly in Missouri, the Branson area scores highest, at 65 (upper middle). Among 55 scored counties in Missouri, Warren County scores highest, at 75 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Missouri scores 29 for child care centers and preschools (lower middle), #45 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Missouri. It maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Child care and preschools in other states
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Top markets for child care centers and preschools across the U.S. · All business types in Missouri
Screening a site or an acquisition in Missouri?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.