Mark Twain’s novels have acquainted readers worldwide with Hannibal and life on the Mississippi River. But today, Hannibal is more than just Mark Twain’s hometown. It’s a suburban city of 17,000 that has a quaint historic downtown, lots of parks, special events and an arts scene. “Growing up, you get tired of it, like ‘oh, Mark Twain everything,’ but then you get older and realize it’s pretty neat to live in this town. It’s a nice small town with plenty of things to do. It’s a nice community to live in,” says J’Nelle Lee, a Realtor with Hannibal Realty. Located just across the Mississippi River from Illinois, this northeast Missouri city is also only about 100 miles away from St. Louis and its amenities. Its economy is robust, and top employers like General Mills, the Hannibal Regional Hospital and Hannibal Clinic, Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, and Continental Cement all contribute to this city's robust workforce.
Hannibal has been an every growing stop among travelers of the Mississippi River since 1819.
Ray Harvey's "Hannibal Street Trolley" combines history with the vibrant downtown streets.
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Housing prices well below national average
While many Hannibal neighborhoods feature ranch-style homes, historic downtown features older homes in Greek Revival and Colonial Revival styles, many of which have been renovated. “Housing is affordable. If somebody’s coming from a larger city, Hannibal’s pretty reasonable for the type of house you can get here. A three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a finished basement might cost $200,000 or $250,000 here, or it could be $500,000 to $1 million somewhere else. Even in St. Louis, it would be $400,000 to $500,000,” Lee says. The median list price in Hannibal stays around $178,000, which is significantly less than the U.S. median list price.
Newer ranch style homes can be found in subdivisions throughout Hannibal.
Classic Greek and Italianate architecture can be found in downtown Hannibal.
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Hannibal Innovation Campus coming soon to District #60
The Hannibal School District #60 serves 3,400 students and earns a B rating from Niche. The district is also home to the Hannibal Innovation Campus, which will open in the coming year. The campus will offer technical training in a variety of trade skills - ranging from welding to automotive care and cosmetology - for both students and adults alike. Higher education institutions in town include Hannibal-LaGrange University and Moberly Area Community College.
1,050 students attend Hannibal High School in grades 9-12.
29 majors are offered at the private Christian college of Hannibal-LaGrange University.
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Riverview Park offers splendid views of Mississippi River
Riverview Park is the largest of Hannibal’s more than two dozen parks. Its 465 acres feature some beautiful views of the Mississippi River. Sodalis Nature Preserve spans 200 acres and includes a dog park, trails and a nature preserve for endangered bats. The city also operates docks on the river and an aquatic park where residents can walk from downtown.
Take in the scenic views of Hannibal from Riverview Park.
Fish, hike, bike, and explore Hannibal at Sodalis Nature Reserve.
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The Huck Finn Shopping Center and big-box retailers
Hannibal offers some shopping and dining downtown and at the Huck Finn Shopping Center, which features anchor stores like JCPenney. The Walmart Supercenter and Lowe's are big-box options in town. “We have some stores here, but you probably go to Quincy or St. Louis for major shopping. We’re a small town, but we’re near enough larger cities that anything we want is within 30 to 90 minutes of us. So, we may not have everything, but it’s really not too far to get anything if we need something,” Lee says.
Shop for sweets and treats at Hannibal's newest downtown addition, Clemens General Store.
What you can't find downtown can be found at the Huck Finn Shopping Center in Hannibal.
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Hannibal celebrates Fourth of July with its Tom Sawyer Days event
Hannibal hosts several special events yearly, but the “main event” centers on its famous native son. “The biggest thing in Hannibal is our Tom Sawyer Days over the Fourth of July. There’s a craft fair and a Tom and Becky contest for seventh-graders. Then we have something called mud volleyball, which is a pretty big deal if you’re from Hannibal,” Lee says, describing the three-day event that the city has held for five decades.
Other popular events include the Big River Steam Punk Festival, the Folklife Festival and the Twain on Main Festival, which features exhibits from selected Twain novels along Main Street downtown. Hannibal also has a vibrant arts scene with cultural events featuring local artists and lively galleries, theaters and exhibits. The city’s downtown historic district showcases local artists’ works every second Saturday.
Hannibal has several popular tourist attractions based on Mark Twain, including the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, the Mark Twain Cave Complex, the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse and the Becky Thacker House.
Learn how Mark Twain and his beloved work at his Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal.
Explore the Hannibal cave made famous by Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
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Locals choose St. Louis Lambert International Airport for its flight options
Interstate 72 and U.S. Highways 61 and 36 pass through Hannibal, creating easy, four-lane access to major cities like St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago. The closest airport for commercial domestic flights is Quincy Regional-Baldwin Field, 30 miles away. For a wider selection of domestic and international flights, residents fly out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 100 miles away.
Important to know
Summers here can be hot and humid, and winters tend to be cold and snowy, with an average of three months below freezing. Although Hannibal is at risk for tornadoes, its risk factor is much lower than the Missouri average.
FBI data shows that crime hit an overall low in 2023 after a peak in 2018. Between 2023 and 2024, property crime declined except for motor vehicle theft and fraud, and violent crime ticked up slightly.
Written By
Anne Amoury
Photography Contributed By
Ethan Babor
Video By
Sara Warthen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Donnely Jung,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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