Downtown Joplin
Neighborhood in Joplin, Missouri
Jasper County 64801
New restaurants add to Joplin's diverse dining scene
New shops and restaurants have helped reshape the Downtown Joplin landscape in recent years. "In the grand scheme of things, those are the things that draw people to live there — I can go a block here to get wings, a block there to get a burger." Downtown is the center of Joplin's food scene, offering casual and fine dining options. Opening in 2023, 530 Somewhere serves signature cocktails and comfort food like chili spaghetti. Hackett Hot Wings has built a fan base since it arrived in 2003. It specializes in 13 signature sauce flavors, including cajun, jerk and lemon pepper. In 2015, Hacket's added a sports room with multiple flat screens. Bars and breweries combine social spaces and entertainment, such as live music and axe throwing.Boutiques, beauty salons, florists and other businesses also fill the spaces along Main and surrounding streets. Dollar General and Downtown Corner Mart are available for groceries locally, while Cash Saver has a fuller about half a mile west. The Joplin Empire Market is another weekly opportunity to grab some local groceries. It occurs year-round every Saturday inside the Empire Market building, less than a mile east. Here, local vendors from the surrounding 150 miles sell fresh produce, prepared foods, meat, baked goods and specialty items.
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Arts and culture at the Cornell Complex
Joplin's arts, entertainment and events are a big part of the city's revival. Connect2Culture and Spiva Center for the Arts, two Joplin nonprofits, opened the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex in November 2022, creating a downtown hub for visual and performing arts. The 37,000-square-foot venue features several gallery spaces and indoor and outdoor stages for classical music performances, theater and national touring artists. Joplin Arts Fest takes place here in September and showcases artists from around the country. Participants get hands-on experience in the Make and Take tent, enjoy live performances, and compete in youth and adult art competitions.Third Thursday is another favorite Joplin event that draws thousands of visitors from March through October. Each month has a different theme, such as Dog Days of Summer and Harvest Festival. The event includes a makers market and performance stages along Main Street. Many Main Street restaurants also stay open late and set up outdoor seating for eventgoers to dine between the browsing.
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Pennington Lofts apartments combine modern and vintage elements
Downtown living typically means renting an apartment in one of Joplin's historic buildings. Neal Group Construction is a local company spearheading the effort to convert old buildings into multi-use complexes with retail spaces on the first floor and apartments on the higher floors. As of 2023, there were 350 completed apartment units and 200 more are in the works, according to the Downtown Joplin Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the area. In 2024, Neal Group opened the Pennington Lofts. These 21 apartments have modern, luxury kitchens juxtaposed with exposed brick from the former Pennington Drug Company building. They're situated on top of the Pennington Station virtual reality arcade. Downtown Joplin Alliance hosts occasional open-house style loft tours for a peek inside some of these new apartment buildings.Most downtown living spaces are rentals, though some open lots and vacant buildings are for sale. More ownership opportunities could open soon. Work is in progress on the Southern Livery Lofts, including eight condominiums with parking. Grand Victorian homes with front porches surround downtown, dating back to the city's early days. These large homes have sometimes been converted into multi-family units for rental income, and some updates may be required. They vary in price and condition, ranging from $90,000 to $127,000.
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Ewert park Aquatic Center is a city-wide draw
Downtown Joplin is central to 22 city parks. Situated next to the Joplin Globe newspaper building, Spiva Park is a small, grassy area tucked into the urban landscape. It features a fountain in the center, surrounded by benches under the shade of tall, mature trees. Two miles east, Ewert Park has a skate park and aquatic center. It caters to kids of all ages with three drop slides in the deep end and a zero-depth splash area. About a mile and a half north is Landreth Park, a sprawling green space with lots of sports and recreation amenities spread over 160 acres. Walking trails connect to the baseball diamonds, pickleball courts, playground and picnic shelters.
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Active Transportation Plan could add downtown bike lanes
Downtown living means walkability to shops, restaurants, and events. Wide sidewalks are throughout this area. On Main, they are buffered by trashcans, lamp posts, trees and flowerpots. Currently, there aren't any bike lanes downtown. Joplin's 2022 Active Transportation Plan identifies areas of improvement throughout the city. It recommends a Downtown Loop to connect the city center to surrounding areas with 5 miles of protected bike lanes. Joplin doesn't have public buses, but it does have a curb-to-curb paratransit service via the Metro Area Public Transit System. Freeman Hospital West has a 24/7 Level II trauma center about 3 miles south.Joplin High students explore different career paths
This neighborhood is divided into two different Joplin Schools pipelines. Students on the west side may attend Dover Hill Elementary, which opened in January 2023, and North Middle, which earns a B-minus. Students on the east side may attend McKinley Elementary and East Middle, both earning a C-plus. Joplin High School serves the city's ninth through 12th graders and gets a C-plus. Located 2 miles south of downtown, the high school will introduce different career academies tailored to students' personal goals in 2025. Areas of study include business and information technology, health services, technical sciences, arts and communication and human services.
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Joplin Police may add a downtown patrol
Downtown Joplin has a CAP Index crime score of 6 out of 10, compared to the national average score of 4. The Joplin Police Department's Crime Free Team helps to reduce city-wide crime through customized projects based on geography and crime category. It also prioritizes community outreach through events such as neighborhood block parties. In a March 2024 Joplin City Council meeting, Joplin Police Chief Richard Pearson proposed several new crime prevention measures, including a downtown patrol.
Written By
Liz Coughlin
Photography Contributed By
Kenyon Gerbrandt
Video By
Ennis Warlick
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Lisa Fletcher
Lisa Fletcher
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY ELEVATE
(417) 373-2742
85 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Joplin
$450,000 Price
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Becky Cobb
Becky Cobb
Responds QuicklyReeceNichols - Neosho
(417) 479-2737
783 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Joplin
$782,500 Price
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David Glenn
David Glenn
GLENN GIBSON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
(417) 609-3439
42 Total Sales
5 in Downtown Joplin
$64K - $550K Price Range
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Jonathan Leach
Jonathan Leach
Keller Williams Realty of Sout
(417) 609-3399
908 Total Sales
4 in Downtown Joplin
$6K - $450K Price Range
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Allyn Burt
Allyn Burt
Charles Burt Realtors
(417) 609-2601
351 Total Sales
3 in Downtown Joplin
$42,000 Price Range
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Jason Wallace
Jason Wallace
Fox and Riley Real Estate
(417) 363-3121
19 Total Sales
3 in Downtown Joplin
$42,000 Price Range
Schools
Source:
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Landreth Park
Spiva Park
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Joplin | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Joplin Demographics and Home Trends
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$362,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$352,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$269,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$190
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
14
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1940
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,894
Significantly above the national average
1,933
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,325
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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$435,000
- 1 Bed
- 2 Baths
- 1,452 Sq Ft
- 214 E 4th St
- Unit 402
- New 23 days ago
Downtown sophistication just leveled up. Introducing a rare offering in Joplin's premier urban address — 214 E 4th Street, Unit 402 — a loft that redefines modern luxury with minimalist edge and metropolitan polish. Nearly 1,500 square feet of bold design, clean lines, and elevated finishes, all set against a backdrop of soaring ceilings and massive industrial windows. This ultra-sleek 1-bed,
Jonathan Leach KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY ELEVATE
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$455,000
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,974 Sq Ft
- 214 E 4th St
- Unit 201
Downtown Living at Its Finest! Welcome to Joplin's premier luxury loft—where upscale urban living meets industrial-chic design. Bask in sweeping city views from the massive sunlit windows of this immaculate open-concept condo, featuring exposed brick, tall ceilings, and designer finishes throughout. The gourmet kitchen is a chef's dream, outfitted with a top-of-the-line KitchenAid 5-star gas
Jonathan Leach KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY ELEVATE
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$269,000
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,263 Sq Ft
- 214 E 4th St
- Unit 403
Luxury downtown true condominium - Unique for Joplin! Attached garage with 2 designated parking spots, private storage closet, elevator, video intercom to secured guest entry in front lobby, interior mailboxes, security door and cameras, access to common areas to include an equipped fitness center and a roof top terrace perfect for entertaining with wonderful views! Experience upscale living in
Dee Kassab PRO 100 Inc., REALTORS
Homes for Rent
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$850 - $2,300 per month
- Brick + Mortar Lofts
- Studio-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 403+ Sq Ft
- 124 S Joplin Ave
- Joplin, MO
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,046
Median Age
34
Population under 18
20.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$29,999
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$34,725
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.6%
College Graduates
19%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.4%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
60.4%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
76
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Byers and Murphy
New and renovated homes near up-and-coming downtown Joplin
East Town
Historic Black Joplin neighborhood rich in history and culture
Murphy and Leffen
Smaller, affordable homes and walkable shops in central Joplin
Murphysburg
Lavish historic homes in a tight-knit communtiy near downtown Joplin
North Heights
Early 20th-century homes with front porches host live music in north Joplin
Blendville North
Refurbished homes and new construction in the heart of Joplin
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