Maximize Northwest Missouri recently released its survey results for the area. Since Worth County had enough responses, it was able to collect data specifically for the county.
The Northwest Missouri region is projected to have a population of 247,000 in 2025, reflecting an 0.9% decline in residents since 2020. Missouri’s population grew by 1.8% during the same period.
Group 2, of which Worth County is a part, has a population of 38,000, which is 1.4% lower than 2020. However, it has 17,000 jobs, which is a 5.7% increase over 2020.
The survey received 1,082 responses. Of them, there were 419 in Group 2, which is home to Maryville. There were 338 in Group 1, which includes St. Joseph. There were 67 from Group 4, which includes Trenton. There were 258 from Group 3, which includes Chillicothe.
Of the respondents, 46% are stayers, who grew up in Northwest Missouri and have always stayed here. 23% are returners, who grew up, moved away, then came back. 26% are migrants, who did not grow up here, but live here now. This is different from immigrants, who moved to the US from other countries. 5% are leavers, who grew up here but have left.
Job opportunities continue to be the most likely reason people move into or out of Northwest Missouri. 38% of Migrants moved here because of job opportunities. 63% of returners did so because of job opportunities.
For Worth County, nearly half of respondents said that relationships with friends and family were the best thing about living in Worth County. That number was almost 50%, and almost three times as high as the next highest response.
However, around one in five Worth County residents are Somewhat or Extremely Likely to move in the next five years. While ties to the area, healthcare, supporting the local economy, and the quality of schools are important factors, broadband or high-speed Internet access and access to hardware, grocery, and other stores are sharply higher factors for Worth County residents than among other respondents in the survey. If people follow through on moving from the county, that could mean a decline of 400 residents to 1,600 in future years.
Family changes, such as retirement or children relocating, were the top reason for moving given by Worth County residents. Job changes were the second most likely reason, but less so than the regional average, since a higher share of residents are retired. Health changes and cost of living increases are more important factors for Worth County respondents compared to the overall region.
Trust and belonging are felt by over three in four Worth County respondents as they trust their neighbors, are willing to help their neighbors, and feel like they belong.
In response to what efforts people would support in the community, most respondents said they would support new businesses as well as support local fundraising. Both are supported at higher levels than the overall region. The third and fourth highest responses were supporting stronger youth organizations and supporting local taxes for local initiatives.
The 2025 alumni and resident survey was initiated by the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri and its Maximize Northwest initiative. The survey was conducted over a four month period from mid-June to mid-October, and covered 18 counties. Out of the 419 responses in Group 2, 51% were from Worth County.
Worth County’s population has declined from 1,968 residents in 2020 to an estimated 1,878 people in 2025, a decline of 4.6%. Around 36.3% of the population is 60 or over. The county has bucked the trend in job growth; while regional, state, and national job growth has all gone up, Worth County has fewer jobs, 591, in 2025 than it did in 2020, when it had 666.
Most Worth County respondents were 60 or older. Around 65% were employed, a lower share than the regional average of 74%. One in three Worth County respondents are retired.
Most Worth County respondents lived in households with two or more adults. Nearly two in three lived in the same zip code for more than 20 years.
The three most important things people liked about Worth County were relationships with friends and family, the cost of living, and safety. Other responses that a majority of respondents checked were the size of the town and community pride. Worth County residents valued these factors more than the overall region respondents.
When pushed to narrow their responses to one, most Worth County respondents mentioned relationships with friends and family by more than three times over the next highest category.
For stayers for the entire region, eight in 10 said they were staying because they wanted to be near family and friends. Four in 10 wanted their kids to grow up as they did. Around two in 10 always wanted to stay or that community engagement, job opportunities, or spouse support were reasons.
For returners, job opportunities were the top reason for leaving for 63% of returners, up from 57% in 2020. Educational opportunities were noted by 40%. Spouse support was a reason for 14%. For returners for the whole region, reasons for coming back included being near family and friends (80%), wanting kids to grow up like they did (33%), and job opportunities (29%). When pushed to narrow it to one category, 53% said they came back because they wanted to be near family and friends.
For migrants throughout the region, 38% moved in to the region because of job opportunities. 34% said they wanted to be near family and friends, significantly lower than in 2020 (54%). Spouse support was the third most common reason, with 31%.
For leavers throughout the region, 63% left because of job opportunities. The second highest response was educational opportunities at 33%.
For Worth County residents, ties to the area, local school quality, and store access were listed as very important factors about where they will live in the next five years. Other factors which drew a majority of responses were access to broadband and access to healthcare. When asked for the most important factor for where to live, most Worth County residents said that ties to the area was the most important factor. Healthcare was second, followed by a strong or growing economy. Quality of local schools was next, followed by access to broadband and access to hardware, grocery, and other stores.
When asked what influences people to move or stay, most Worth County residents said that family changes were most important, followed by job changes. Health changes were third, and more Worth County respondents were likely to cite this than the overall region. Rising cost of living was fourth and more likely to be checked by Worth County residents than the region.
When asked about specifically about job influences, salary growth was the most important factor for Worth County residents, followed by a low cost of living and easy commuting. More Worth County residents were retired compared to the overall region, so they were generally less concerned with working factors.
When asked about what community activities Worth County residents did, 90% said they voted and socialized with neighbors. Other responses that got a majority of responses were donating money, volunteering, and fundraising. Around 56% said they would try a new activity if asked.
Around four in five Worth County residents trust and are willing to help their neighbors and feel like they belong. Three in five feel that people respect their values and work together. Worth County residents generally indicate a higher sense of community trust and belonging compared to the overall region.
Around 94% of Worth County residents felt that voting locations and adequate hours were available. Over 60% felt there were places to meet with friends and neighbors. A majority of respondents also felt there were ways to invest or give back to the community and access public information and lifelong learning resources.
When asked about changes that excited them about the future, 40% of Worth County residents said that economic gains such as jobs or businesses would excite them. Community improvements were mentioned by one in four respondents, but less than in the region.
When asked about what changes worry them the most, 37% of Worth County residents said they were worried about population or business loss. This is higher than in the region. 19% said they were worried about the political climate, including mistrust of the government. This is lower than the region.
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