Cottage Grove

At the heart of Missouri, Columbia is truly one of America’s greatest college towns. The University of Missouri sits right at the center of the city, and generally serves as the cultural hub for the wider community. Locals, whether connected directly to the university or not, regularly visit campus for sporting events, concerts, gallery exhibitions, lectures, and more. Just north of campus, Downtown Columbia features a thriving mix of coffee shops, restaurants, nightclubs, taverns, and performance venues, largely catering to the huge numbers of students from Mizzou, as well as the smaller Stephens College and Columbia College.

Of course, the community extends well beyond the collegiate environment at the city center. The University of Missouri Health Care system is the second-biggest employer in town, so the community of healthcare professionals in town is quite extensive. The cost of living is quite affordable, and there are numerous apartments and rental homes to fit any budget.