STEM learning and convenient living in a rural college town
Combining the charms of a college town and the convenience of a city within a rural landscape, Rolla is a distinctive city of about 20,000 in central Missouri. Its biggest claim to fame is Missouri University of Science and Technology, an acclaimed scientific institution at the heart of the city. But beyond student living and its accompanying traditions like a rollicking St. Patrick’s Day festival each year, the community has convenient shopping, straightforward connections to other cities such as St. Louis, and a robust park system that contribute to its appeal beyond the young adult years. “I mean, it really is small town living at its best. You don't know everybody, but you're not overwhelmed, and it doesn't take 15 minutes to get across town, which I love. I lived in Tacoma for two years, but I ended up right back here afterward,” says Jan Parsons, a Realtor with Century 21 First Choice. Parsons has lived in Rolla for more than 80 years and sold homes locally for more than 35 of those.
Explore the charm of Rolla, where history and nature meet.
Explore cutting-edge research and campus life at Missouri S&T in Rolla, MO.
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Single-family homes popular with investors and renters
Rolla’s earliest homes date back to the 1890s, but properties established from the 1950s to the present make up most of the local home market. Buyers can find ranch-style homes here, alongside split-levels, minimal traditional homes and selected colonial revival properties. Four- and five-bedroom custom homes built on large plots of land are also present, mostly near the outer reaches of town. The city’s connection to the Missouri S&T campus is a natural draw for investors. “Our brokerage does a lot of rentals, and there are people who come in town just to rent before they buy, too. Lots of folks turn from renters to buyers,” Parsons says. One factor that keeps residents in town is the price range; Rolla’s median home value of $225,500 sits below the state median of $263,000 and the national median home value of about $405,000.
Explore Rolla's charming ranch homes with spacious yards and cozy designs.
Find comfort and style in Rolla's charming split-level homes.
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Engineering and computer science at Missouri University of Science and Technology
Grade schoolers in town are served by Rolla Public Schools, which earns a B-plus overall on Niche. Kids start at any of three elementary schools in the district, which each hold B-plus or B grades; students continue to learn from fourth through sixth grade at the B-ranked Rolla Middle School. Rolla Junior High School earns a B-minus and serves kids from seventh to eighth grade. Rolla High School offers 15 athletic teams and clubs and also earns a B grade on Niche.
The Missouri University of Science and Technology campus is located in the city center. Best known for its engineering and computer science programs, this STEM-focused research university offers 36 bachelor's degree options across three different colleges. Missouri S&T holds an A-minus grade on Niche.
Missouri S&T in Rolla is shaping future engineers and scientists with hands-on learning.
Students at Rolla High School enjoy art, and music as part of their well-rounded education.
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Locals escape the heat at Fugitive Beach
“There are lots of lakes and rivers for people who like to fish,” Parsons says. Toward the center of town, Schuman Park and Frisco Lake fit the bill; another standout at the park is the restored Saint Louis and San Francisco Railway Company steam train, which has been settled in the park for more than five decades but received a fresh coat of paint in 2020. Ber Juan Park on 14th and Holliday also offers fishing on the grounds, alongside picnic shelters, playgrounds, ball fields and the city’s only public outdoor pool and skate park. For folks ready to cool off in the summertime, Fugitive Beach, about 9 miles southeast of town, is a waterpark with platform jumps, slides and a large pool converted from a former quarry.
Rolla’s weather is classically Midwestern in character, with warm summers and chilly winters. “There’s snow on the ground right now, and I love snow,” Parsons says.
Schuman Park is a great place for fishing it’s waterways.
Schuman Park is a favorite destination for the residents of the area.
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Science and seafood at NaCl + H2O
Rolla’s businesses include a mix of familiar brands and local options. Big box stores such as Walmart, Kroger, Lowe’s and Kohl’s each sit along Old Route 66. Price Chopper and Dollar General offer additional stops for everyday goods on the east side of town near Forum Drive and 10th Street. Along the city blocks of Downtown Rolla, Pine Street is a hub for specialty shops and boutiques, including Forgotten Finds for antiques, Red Door Boutique for ladies’ fashions and Eclipse Books and Comics.
Also situated on Pine Street, NaCl + H2O lives up to the formula in its name – Salt + Water – with a menu of seafood, steak and cocktails. One of Parsons’ personal recommendations, Di Trapani’s on the Square, is about five blocks east, specializing in Italian fare. Familiar chain restaurants such as Waffle House, Longhorn Steakhouse and Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken are each situated along Bishop Avenue.
Step into Red Door Boutique for one-of-a-kind fashion pieces in Rolla, MO.
Stock up on essentials at Walmart in Rolla, MO for your everyday needs.
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St. Pat's Parade in central Missouri
Like many cities, holidays like Christmas are common celebrations in Rolla, but MST and the city go all out for St. Patrick’s Day each year. The flagship event of the season is the annual Rolla St. Pat’s Parade, which dates back more than 115 years and typically includes floats, performances and merriment with a new theme each year. Other parts of the festivities include events during the week at local bars like Prairie Barn Winery in neighboring St. James, a 5K and beer run preceding the parade and concerts organized by the student-run St. Pat’s Board featuring well-known indie, pop and rock artists.
Parsons also points to the Fourth of July celebrations at the Rolla Lions Club Park as a highlight. Citizens can visit the carnival for midway games, funnel cakes and rides; the annual tradition is celebrating 90 years in town in 2025.
106 miles to St. Louis
Major thoroughfares in Rolla include Interstate 44, Bishop Avenue/Old Route 66 and Missouri Highway 72. The city is about 106 miles southwest of St. Louis; with normal traffic, locals can generally get from town to the Gateway City within two hours. Rolla National Airport and Rolla Downtown Airport are primarily used by private flights and aircraft owners; generally, residents flying to other parts of the country can depart from St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 109 miles northeast of town.
For medical emergencies, Phelps Health Hospital is on the west side of town on 10th Street. The Missouri University of Science and Technology and Phelps Health are the city’s two largest employers; other organizations with large local workforces include Brewer Science, Rolla High School and Phelps County Bank.
Crime in Rolla
According to data sourced from the FBI, reported property crime in Rolla increased in 2020 before decreasing by more than 200 cases in 2021, with similar rates in the years since. Violent crime decreased in the city between 2022 and 2023.
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