Military Friendly Communities on the Katy Trail

The Katy Trail spans Over 240 miles through much of the state of Missouri and provides endless outdoor entertainment. Additionally, the trail passes through numerous military friendly communities that are in close proximity to installations. This combined with lower than average home prices make them perfect for active duty and Veterans alike.

Top Katy Trail Communities for Active Duty and Veterans

Saint Charles, Missouri

St Charles Depot

Saint Charles is the largest city along the Katy Trail and offers superb schools, entertainment, and employment opportunities. The trailhead is located in the heart of historic Main Street with additional access points along the trail as it heads west towards Augusta.

Housing prices in Missouri are favorable compared to other areas in the US and St. Charles is no exception. As of May, 2022 Redfin reported a median home sale price of $305,500 which is 18% lower than the US average.

Being a suburb of Saint Louis, employment opportunities are abundant with numerous military friendly employers such as Boeing and Veterans United Home Loans. Average income in the region is 18% higher than the rest of the state making Saint Charles an excellent choice to build a career after service.

View local Saint Charles, Mo listings via Homefront.com
Boonville, Missouri

Boonville DepotBoonville is a considerably smaller city along the trail in comparison to Saint Charles, however, offers charm and amenities most would not expect. The trailhead runs through the center of town and is part of what is arguably the most beautiful span of the trail from the Katy Bridge to McBaine.

Housing prices in Boonville are quite favorable. Redfin reports and average home price of $175,000 as of May, 2022. That is a whopping 53% below the US average!

Boonville is less than a half hour drive to Columbia, Missouri which offers a plethora of entertainment, shopping, and employment options. Columbia is home to the University of Missouri as well as the headquarters for Equipment Share and Veterans United Home Loans.

View local Boonville, MO listings via Homefront.com
Clinton, Missouri

ClintonLike Boonville, Clinton is a small town along the trail that packs a lot! Clinton is blessed with trail access as well as one of the best fishing lakes in the state in Truman Lake. The city is also an hour from Kansas City and 45 minutes to Whiteman Air Force Base making it a perfect spot to settle.

Housing prices in Clinton come in the lowest on the list with the average being $112,000 as of May 2022. 70% below the US average.

While large employers are not as plentiful as others on the list, the city is an excellent choice for those looking to work remotely or retirees looking to take advantage of the abundant hunting, fishing, and trails.

View local Clinton, MO listings via Homefront.com
Active Duty and Veteran Home Buying Resources

Several resources exist that are focused on helping service members navigate the process of finding and purchasing a home.

Veterans United Home Loans

If you have been following along you may already know we are fans of this company. Veterans United practically wrote the book on how to simplify the VA loan process. This Columbia headquartered company consistently gains 5 star reviews and has maintained a top rating by Fortune Magazine for great places to work since 2016! Pair that with the fact that their Veterans United Foundation has donated over 100 million dollars to local and national charities since 2011 and you have a winner! Get started on your pre-approval here.

The Military Wallet

This site is full of resources that can help navigate benefits, disability, savings, and investing. If you are looking for military focused resources on managing your finances this is it! Visit TheMilitaryWallet.com

Realtor.com

We are particularly fond of this home search site due to its east of use and Veteran friendly tools. Along with excellent design and a world class app, they regularly updates consumers on vital trends such as price drops and interest rates.

RateUpdate.com

Looking for more local rates? Check out rateupdate.com which provides a constant stream of updated loan rates in your area.