Sedalia is a draw now for the same reason it was at its genesis: location. This Missouri city blossomed in the 19th century because of its point along two railroad lines. Today, this community of 22,000 and growing offers accessibly priced homes close to multiple major employers, well-regarded schools, an assortment of retail and dining options, and one of the largest events in the state. “We’re just kind of like a small town. I’ve lived here for 50 years, and I love it,” says Dena Stockstill, a Realtor with Re/Max of Sedalia. “It’s a great place to raise your family.”
Sedalia locals grab coffee and snacks at The 518 Provisions on Ohio in the historic downtown area.
Sedalia blossomed in the 19th century because of its points along two railroad lines that are still in use today.
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Construction is common here
A lot of new subdivisions are popping up in Sedalia, says Stockstill, where it’s estimated the population has grown by 700 since 2010. Modern developments include communities like The Gables and Covered Bridge Estates, and the area’s newer homes go for between $200,000 and $500,000. Also, in a city more than 160 years old, there are plenty of houses that date back to the late 19th century and early 20th — many of them located along Broadway Boulevard or just off it, in the center of town. “It’s got a lot of big trees, and it just looks like you’re driving through an old, historic area,” says Mark Pohl, broker and owner with TheHomesTour.com and a Sedalia native. “But it’s pretty. Because you’ve got four lanes of traffic. Broadway’s kind of got that old, but expensive, feel.” These established houses sell for anywhere from $40,000 to $215,000 based on condition. Options around town list for a median price of $197,000. “We’re still pretty cheap living,” Pohl says. “Taxes are pretty cheap here.”
Modern developments like The Gables sit in the southern part of Sedalia with modern homes styles that vary between craftsman and ranch.
Near the center of town in Sedalia, many homes date back to the late 19th century or early 20th century.
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Manufacturers like NUCOR are investing in Sedalia
Established major employers include the 145-bed Bothwell Regional Health Center and Tyson Foods, which has a 469,000-square-foot factory in town. Also, NUCOR, the country’s largest steel manufacturer, opened a $400-million-dollar plant in Sedalia in 2019. Sedalia is just over 20 miles east of the expansive Whiteman Air Force Base, too, which houses the 509th Bomb Wing, a group that oversees the Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet. “We have a lot of Air Force people that, in their travels in the Air Force, they stopped here and they came back because they remembered how nice it was,” Pohl says. “So we have a pretty big population of people that got introduced to the area through the Air Force base.”
A major employer in Sedalia is the 145-bed Bothwell Regional Health Center that is located just southeast of downtown.
Northwest of Sedalia sits Tyson Foods, which has a 469,000-square-foot factory in town.
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State fair is a fond attraction
City parks like the 173-acre Clover Dell come with amenities for a range of people, whether it’s recreational soccer on one of the eight fields, a game of disc golf on the 18-hole course or an afternoon fishing in the 12-acre lake. The 39-acre Centennial Park has eight ball diamonds and a 1-mile trail. The city opened the 92,000-square-foot Heckart Community Center in 2022, a space available at cost and that includes a pool, fitness center and gymnasium. Part of the Katy Trail State Park, which includes the longest rail trail in America at 240 miles, runs through Sedalia as well.
Locals can experience Sedalia parks through one of the several community events over the course of the year, including an Easter Egg Hunt at Liberty Park, a Father’s Day Fishing Derby at Clover Dell Park and a Fourth of July picnic at Liberty Park. The Missouri State Fairgrounds are in Sedalia as well, and hosts the Missouri State Fair over a week and a half each August. “Which is a big deal in this town,” Stockstill says. The fair attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Sedalia sees warm summers and winters that average about a foot of snow. The state has experienced an average of 55 tornadoes a year since 2010, according to a Springfield News-Leader database.
The 92,000-square-foot Heckart Community Center in Sedalia boasts an indoor pool, gymnasium, fitness center and more.
Sedalias 173-acre Clover Dell Park comes with a wide range of amenities like recreational soccer, disc golf, or fishing in the 12-acre lake.
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Downtown helps keep historic character alive
Sedalia has a historic downtown district along Ohio Avenue “that we’ve tried to revive and keep alive,” Pohl says. The district is full of tall Italianate- and Art Deco-style buildings with glass storefronts housing restaurants, clothing stores, offices and more. There are multiple event venues downtown, too, including the Liberty Center, where people can see theater and comedy shows. The west side of town, close to the fairgrounds, has a corridor with big-box stores and franchises. “We’ve got a lot of major stores, like Walmart,” Stockhill says. “Our shopping’s great. We’ve got a lot of chains.”
Sedalia has a historic downtown district along Ohio Avenue, full of Italianate and Art Deco style buildings housing restaurants, clothing stores, offices and shops.
The west side of Sedalia has a corridor with many big-box stores and franchises like Walmart, JC Penny and Big Lots.
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Highways connect to attractions and more
A couple of major highways run through Sedalia in U.S. Route 65 and U.S. Route 50. Route 50 is a way to reach the Columbia Regional Airport, which offers commercial flights through American Airlines. It’s also common for people to use the highways on their way to Lake of the Ozarks for weekend recreation. “On Friday night, coming from Kansas City and Kansas, you get a line of cars and campers and boats, a big lineup coming through,” Pohl says. “And they cut through here to go to Lake of the Ozarks on Friday night. On Sunday night it’s the other way around, they’re coming back from the lake and they’re cutting through here. And that’s actually good for Sedalia.” The city’s rail roots are kept alive in part by an Amtrak station, which is located downtown just off Ohio Avenue.
Robotics area an extracurricular at Smith-Cotton
The Sedalia School District has a B overall grade on Niche. The 5,000-student system includes an early childhood center, four elementary schools, a junior high and two high schools. One of the high schools, Smith-Cotton, offers an award-winning robotics team. The A-minus-rated Sacred Heart School is a private option for prekindergarten to 12th grade, with student-teacher ratios of 8-to-1. State Fair Community College in town has a popular nursing program.
The State Fair Community College in Sedalia has a popular nursing program along with many others.
The A-minus-rated Sacred Heart School in Sedalia is a private option for prekindergarten to 12th grade, with student-teacher ratios of 8-to-1.
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Crime
Sedalia saw drops in property and violent crime from 2023 to 2024, according to data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
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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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On average, homes in Sedalia, MO sell after 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Sedalia, MO over the last 12 months is $191,000, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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