City Score: Elk Creek, MO

The score

Elk Creek, MO scores 36 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 43 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 25 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Missouri state-wide

Read state-wide: Missouri

State-wide for every index: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Drug overdose deaths, Legal gambling, Given to local needs in Joy, Needs met in Joy, Volunteers mobilized in Joy, New believers in Joy, Searches for a church in Joy, Foster and adoptive families in the churches, Christian colleges and universities, Divorces, Marriages, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for Missouri as a whole, not by city, so every Missouri city carries Missouri's numbers.

Missouri scores 37 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 41 · Movement 31).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any Missouri city reaches Missouri's officials, and Missouri's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for Missouri in the Joy app.

What's moving it

• 6 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
• 8 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
• 59 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
• 5 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of Elk Creek, MO

• What Elk Creek is up against: 72 out of 100 — Better than 8% of cities, up 4 points (Missouri state-wide)
• Where grace is growing: 37 out of 100 — Better than 71% of cities (Missouri state-wide)
• Marriage & family: 58 out of 100 — Better than 62% of cities, up 8 points (Missouri state-wide)
• Christian liberty: 48 out of 100 — Better than 38% of cities, down 7 points (Missouri state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in Elk Creek, MO

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Elk Creek, MO rates 47 out of 100: Stirring across 7 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 46 out of 100, Stirring

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (528.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, Texas County, MO). Missouri (16 counties summed) state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 45 out of 100 (6 ways to serve, 8 gatherings, and 59 churches listed).

The Family: 58 out of 100, Mending

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (74.8 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Texas County, MO). Missouri state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (5 Bible studies).

Education: 71 out of 100, Grounded

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (1 0-2, Missouri). Missouri state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (5 Bible studies).

Government: 46 out of 100, Unsettled

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (37.9 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, Missouri). Missouri state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 24 out of 100.

Media: 51 out of 100, Mixed

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (0.1 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), Missouri). Missouri state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 31 out of 100.

Arts & Entertainment: 47 out of 100, Mixed

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From Elk Creek, MO's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 31 out of 100.

Business: 21 out of 100, Tightfisted

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (0.7 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Texas County, MO). Missouri (16 counties summed) state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 21 out of 100.

Compassion: 37 out of 100, Indifferent

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (23.1 deaths per 100,000, Missouri (19 counties summed)). Missouri (19 counties summed) state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 36 out of 100 (6 ways to serve).

What takes Elk Creek, MO to Revival

• City Pulse: City Pulse 3 → 40
• Unity: Unity 22 → 45
• Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
• Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

• This quarter: Cohabiting households up 73 percentile points (Marriage & family)
• This quarter: Religious Liberty in the States score down 10 percentile points (Christian liberty)
• This quarter: Property crime up 8 percentile points (What Elk Creek is up against)

Elk Creek, MO over time

• Oct 2026 — Entered Liberty

Sources

1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Missouri · fetched Oct 29, 2026
2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Missouri · fetched Oct 29, 2026
3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Missouri (19 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Texas County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Texas County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Texas County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Missouri (16 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Missouri (16 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Missouri (16 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Missouri (16 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Missouri (16 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · Missouri (16 counties summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · Missouri · fetched Nov 10, 2026
22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Texas County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Texas County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Texas County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Missouri · fetched Oct 29, 2026
32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · Missouri · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, Elk Creek, MO, Missouri, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

Compare Elk Creek, MO

• Elk Creek, MO vs St. Louis, IL (St. Louis, IL scores 37)
• Elk Creek, MO vs Kansas City, KS (Kansas City, KS scores 31)
• Elk Creek, MO vs Springfield, MO (Springfield, MO scores 34)
• Elk Creek, MO vs Columbia, MO (Columbia, MO scores 38)
• Elk Creek, MO vs Joplin, MO (Joplin, MO scores 35)

Every indicator

What Elk Creek is up against — 72 out of 100

• Violent crime: 420.1 offences per 100,000, better than 18% of cities · 2025, Missouri · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Property crime: 1667.9 offences per 100,000, better than 27% of cities, up 8 points · 2025, Missouri · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Sexually transmitted infections: not shown (no data) · CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus
• Drug overdose deaths: 23.1 deaths per 100,000, better than 37% of cities, up 8 points · 2025, Missouri (19 counties summed) · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
• Legal gambling: 2 0-3, better than 45% of cities · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Adult entertainment outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Gambling outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Cannabis outlets: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Liquor outlets and bars: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Predatory lenders: not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
• Abortion facilities (mapped): not shown (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)

Where grace is growing — 37 out of 100

• Church adherents: 528.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 63% of cities · 2020, Texas County, MO · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Congregations: 35.9 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 83% of cities · 2020, Texas County, MO · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
• Charitable giving: 0.7 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 42% of cities · 2023, Texas County, MO · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
• Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Missouri (16 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Missouri (16 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Missouri (16 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Missouri (16 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Missouri (16 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
• Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, Missouri (16 counties summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
• Christian colleges and universities: 5.4 per million residents, better than 91% of cities · 2024, Missouri · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 58 out of 100

• Children with married parents: 74.8 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 67% of cities · 2020-2024, Texas County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Adults 25-44 married: 47.1 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 38% of cities · 2020-2024, Texas County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Cohabiting households: 4.4 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 86% of cities, up 73 points · 2020-2024, Texas County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Divorces: 14.8 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, better than 32% of cities, up 2 points · 2020-2024, Missouri · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Marriages: 34.8 married in the last 12 months per 1,000 unmarried people 15+, better than 64% of cities, down 2 points · 2020-2024, Missouri · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
• Births to unmarried mothers: not shown (no data) · CDC WONDER

Christian liberty — 48 out of 100

• Religious Liberty in the States score: 37.9 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, better than 43% of cities, down 10 points · 2026, Missouri · Religious Liberty in the States
• Safeguards fully in law: 6 of the edition's safeguards, better than 46% of cities · 2026, Missouri · Religious Liberty in the States
• State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 1 1 = full protection, 0 = none, better than 70% of cities · 2026, Missouri · Religious Liberty in the States
• Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.1 incidents per 100,000, better than 50% of cities · 2025, Missouri · FBI Crime Data Explorer
• School choice: 1 0-2, better than 54% of cities · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Protections for the unborn: 0 0-2, better than 29% of cities · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Homeschool freedom: 2 0-2, better than 77% of cities · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
• Tone of news coverage of Christianity: 0.1 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), better than 51% of cities · 2026-11, Missouri · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, Elk Creek, MO, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/elk-creek-mo/score

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• How the score is built (methodology)
• The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table

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