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If you are looking for a place with small-town charm and big-city conveniences, West Plains is the place for you!

Welcome to West Plains!

Get ready to enjoy the easy and slow pace of the Ozarks. Nestled in the Ozark Heritage Region of Missouri, West Plains is the largest town within 100 miles in Missouri. As the county seat of Howell County, West Plains is a bustling place for business and industry.

If you are looking for a place with small-town charm and big-city conveniences, West Plains is the place for you! With an added bonus of the beauty of the Ozarks surrounding West Plains, you have the option of city-living, living in the middle of nowhere, or somewhere in-between.

Climate

The climate in West Plains can be described as having an abundance of sunshine, low wind velocity, and mild temperatures. You will find temperatures in the spring ranging from 50-70 degrees, summers in the 70s to 90s, fall temperatures matching the spring, and mild winters that usually don’t dip below 20 degrees.

Housing

West Plains offers ample choices in housing. Our neighborhoods provide a safe, clean place to raise a family or enjoy your years of retirement. The average cost of a new home ranges between $130,000-$170,000 for a three bedroom, two bath, and a two-car garage. For renters, there is a selection of housing to choose from with rates averaging from $450-$800 per month.

Taxes

Most personal property is assessed at 33.33% of its value as specified by the statutes of Missouri. Real estate is assessed at 19% for residential, 12% for agricultural, and 32% of commercial market value as appraised by the County Assessor’s office.

Education

The West Plains School District is composed of approximately 2,700 students who attend school in the district, grades K-12. The district employs over 400 people, with 240 of those as classroom teachers. The district boasts a 17:1 student to teacher ratio. That’s just one of the many reasons why the district is rated one of the best high schools in the state and country. Missouri State University-West Plains offers a rigorous transfer program and well as two-year career programs. The Outreach Program at Missouri State University’s Springfield campus offers several undergraduate and graduate degrees on the West Plains campus. The South Central Career Center uses industry standards and state-of-the-art technology to develop a high-quality workforce.

Healthcare

The West Plains medical community consists of more than 100 physicians, 10 dentists, and two orthodontists. Most are surprised at the vast number of specialists available in West Plains. In addition to general and family practitioners, there are specialists in anesthesiology, behavioral healthcare, cardiology, dermatology, ENT, emergency medicine, endochrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, gerontology, hematology, infectious disease, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, occupational therapy, medical oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pain management, pathology, pediatrics, physical therapy, podiatry, psychiatry, pulmonology, rheumatology, radiology, speech therapy, thoracic surgery, urology, and wound care.

South Howell County Ambulance District provides advanced life support service. The central dispatching system for South Howell is provided by a county-wide enhanced 9-1-1 emergency dispatch systems. AirEvac EMS, Inc. provides air/helicopter ambulance service to the area.

West Plains has many options for home health services. The specialties range from skilled and psychiatric nursing to social work and therapy services, to spirtual and emotional support.

Several options also are available for nursing home care and assisted living.