Troy, MO

Living in Troy, Missouri, feels a bit like being part of a small-town secret that's slowly getting out. It’s a classic Lincoln County river town where Friday night lights still matter, the square feels like the center of the universe on a summer evening, and most people you pass at the grocery store probably know your last name. You get the quiet, safe rhythms of rural life, but with a young, growing population (median age just 34.8) that keeps things from feeling sleepy.

The Daily Rhythm: Work, Commute, and the Weekend Reset

For most residents, the workweek is defined by a trade-off. With a median household income of $75,777, Troy offers solid middle-class stability, but the average commute clocks in at just under 32 minutes. That’s the price of living in a quiet town while earning a living in the broader St. Louis metro or at major local employers like the Lincoln County Medical Center or the sprawling Boeing facility down the road in St. Charles. You’ll see a lot of pickup trucks and sensible SUVs heading west on Highway 47 toward I-70 each morning.

Weekends are where Troy shines. Saturday mornings are for grabbing a breakfast burrito at Los Cabos or a coffee at the local shop near the historic square. Afternoons are spent at Cuivre River State Park—just a ten-minute drive north—where locals hike the Lewis and Clark Trail or fish for bass and crappie. The cost of living index sits at 84 (well below the national average), which means a family can actually afford a nice $212,100 home and still have money left over for a boat or an ATV, both of which are common sights in driveways here.

Sports, Community, and the Friday Night Lights Vibe

High school sports are the cultural backbone of Troy. The Troy Buchanan Trojans (Class 5) pack the stands on fall Fridays, and the community takes its football, basketball, and wrestling seriously. It’s not uncommon for the whole town to shut down early for a playoff game. If you didn’t play for the Trojans, you probably know someone who did, and that connection runs deep. There’s no pro sports team in town, but you’ll find plenty of Cardinals and Chiefs flags flying on porches—St. Louis is an hour east, and Kansas City is a manageable three-hour drive for a weekend game.

The social calendar revolves around the Troy Fair and the Lincoln County Fair in the summer, where 4-H projects, carnival rides, and demolition derbies draw crowds from all over the county. For a quieter night, locals head to Main Street Brewing Company for a craft beer or to Doc’s Place for a cold one and live music on the patio. The square itself hosts a farmers market from spring through fall, and the annual Christmas on the Square tree-lighting is the kind of event where you’ll run into your kid’s teacher and your neighbor all in one block.

What’s There to Do (and What’s Missing)

Outdoor life is the main draw. Besides Cuivre River State Park, the Missouri River is close enough for a quick afternoon float or kayak trip. The Troy City Park has a solid splash pad and ball fields that host weekend tournaments. But let’s be honest: if you’re looking for a concert venue, a nightclub, or a mall, you’re driving to St. Charles or St. Louis. The entertainment scene is low-key—think bonfires, backyard barbecues, and the occasional cover band at a local bar.

For dining, you’ve got solid staples: Pizza Hut and Casey’s for quick bites, but the real gems are the local spots like El Maguey for Mexican and Bella Napoli for Italian. The grocery scene is anchored by a Schnucks and a Walmart, so you can get everything you need without leaving town. The biggest frustration for longtime residents? The lack of a major department store or a sit-down chain restaurant like a Cracker Barrel—you’ll drive 20 minutes to Wentzville for that.

Pros and Cons of Living in Troy

What locals love:

• Safety and quiet. The violent crime rate is 102.8 per 100,000—significantly lower than the national average. Kids can still ride bikes to the park without constant worry.
• Affordability. A median home value of $212,100 and a cost of living at 84% of the U.S. average means your dollar goes far here.
• Community feel. People show up for each other. When a family has a fire or a medical crisis, the town rallies with fundraisers and meal trains.

What frustrates residents:

• The commute. That 32-minute average is real, and it can feel longer when Highway 47 backs up behind a tractor or a crash.
• Limited nightlife and shopping. If you want a movie theater, a bowling alley, or a Target, you’re driving to Wentzville or St. Peters.
• Growth pains. Troy is growing fast (population 13,467 and climbing), and the infrastructure—roads, schools, sewer—sometimes struggles to keep up. You’ll hear complaints about traffic on Highway 47 during peak hours.

The kind of person who fits in here is someone who values roots over flash. It’s a place for young families (the median age of 34.8 reflects that), for people who work in trades or healthcare or commute to a corporate job, and for anyone who wants a yard, a garage, and a community where the high school football coach is a local celebrity. Only 13.1% of adults hold a college degree, which tracks with the blue-collar and service-industry backbone of the economy—but that also means the social scene is less about wine bars and more about deer camp and the lake. If you’re looking for a place where you can actually know your neighbors and your kids can grow up with a sense of belonging, Troy delivers. Just be ready to drive a little for a big night out.