City Score: Morton, MO
One number for Morton, MO: the condition of the city from public data and how the church is moving, updated weekly, every indicator footnoted to its source. Back to Morton, MO. Part of the Kansas City, MO-KS area. In Missouri.
The score
Morton, MO scores 35 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 41 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 26 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.
Condition: Missouri state-wide
Read state-wide: Missouri
State-wide for Burden, Marriage & family, and Liberty: the numbers for Violent crime, Property crime, Legal gambling, 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
- 1 prayer gathering (Prayer, listed from church websites)
- 12 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
- 13 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
- 65 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
- 11 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)
The condition of Morton, MO
- What Morton is up against: 68 out of 100 — Better than 12% of cities, down 2 points (Missouri state-wide)
- Where grace is growing: 19 out of 100 — Better than 18% of cities (From the Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) area)
- Marriage & family: 66 out of 100 — Better than 75% of cities (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 Morton, MO
A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Morton, MO rates 45 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: 24 out of 100, Lukewarm
Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (389.8 adherents per 1,000 residents, Ray County, MO). From the Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 41 out of 100 (1 prayer gathering, 12 ways to serve, and 13 gatherings).
Every measure behind The Church (6)
- Church adherents: 389.8 adherents per 1,000 residents, scores 30 out of 100 · 2020, Ray County, MO · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
- Congregations: 21.6 congregations per 10,000 residents, scores 51 out of 100 · 2020, Ray County, MO · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
- Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
- Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
- New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
- Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
The Family: 65 out of 100, Steadfast
The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (74.4 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Ray County, MO). Missouri state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (11 Bible studies).
Every measure behind The Family (8)
- Children with married parents: 74.4 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, scores 65 out of 100 · 2020-2024, Ray County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
- Adults 25-44 married: 60.4 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, scores 87 out of 100 · 2020-2024, Ray County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
- Cohabiting households: 7.0 % of households that are cohabiting couples, scores 42 out of 100 · 2020-2024, Ray County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
- Divorces: 14.8 divorced in the last 12 months per 1,000 married people, scores 32 out of 100 · 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+, scores 64 out of 100 · 2020-2024, Missouri · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
- Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-11, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested)
- Births to unmarried mothers: no reading here (no data) · CDC WONDER
- Abortion facilities (mapped): no reading here (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
Education: 67 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 (11 Bible studies).
Every measure behind Education (3)
- School choice: 1 0-2, scores 54 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
- Homeschool freedom: 2 0-2, scores 77 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
- Christian colleges and universities: 5.7 per million residents, scores 82 out of 100 · 2024, Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed) · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)
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.
Every measure behind Government (6)
- Religious Liberty in the States score: 37.9 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, scores 43 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · Religious Liberty in the States
- Safeguards fully in law: 6 of the edition's safeguards, scores 46 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · Religious Liberty in the States
- State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: 1 1 = full protection, 0 = none, scores 70 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · Religious Liberty in the States
- Anti-Christian hate crimes: 0.1 incidents per 100,000, scores 50 out of 100 · 2025, Missouri · FBI Crime Data Explorer
- Legal gambling: 2 0-3, scores 45 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
- Protections for the unborn: 0 0-2, scores 29 out of 100 · 2026, Missouri · The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml)
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: 15 out of 100.
Every measure behind Media (1)
- Tone of news coverage of Christianity: 0.1 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), scores 51 out of 100 · 2026-11, Missouri · GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity)
Arts & Entertainment: 45 out of 100, Mixed
Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From Morton, MO's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 15 out of 100.
Every measure behind Arts & Entertainment (2)
- Adult entertainment outlets: no reading here (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
- Gambling outlets: no reading here (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
Business: 9 out of 100, Greedy
Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (0.4 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Ray County, MO). From the Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 9 out of 100.
Every measure behind Business (3)
- Charitable giving: 0.4 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, scores 19 out of 100 · 2023, Ray County, MO · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
- Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
- Predatory lenders: no reading here (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
Compassion: 50 out of 100, Stirring
Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (21.2 deaths per 100,000, Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed)). From the Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 30 out of 100 (12 ways to serve).
Every measure behind Compassion (3)
- Drug overdose deaths: 21.2 deaths per 100,000, scores 50 out of 100 · 2025, Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed) · CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR)
- Cannabis outlets: no reading here (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
- Liquor outlets and bars: no reading here (no data) · OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats)
What takes Morton, 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: Drug overdose deaths down 10 percentile points (What Morton is up against)
- This quarter: Religious Liberty in the States score down 10 percentile points (Christian liberty)
- This quarter: Property crime up 8 percentile points (What Morton is up against)
Morton, MO over time
- — Entered Liberty
Sources
- Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Missouri · fetched Oct 29, 2026
- Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Missouri · fetched Oct 29, 2026
- Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
- Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
- Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
- Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
- Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
- Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
- Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
- Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Ray County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Ray County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Ray County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
- Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
- Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
- New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
- Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
- Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
- Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed) · fetched Nov 10, 2026
- Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Ray County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Ray County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Ray County, MO · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Oct 28, 2026
- Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Missouri · fetched Oct 29, 2026
- School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
- Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
- Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Missouri · fetched Nov 4, 2026
- 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, Morton, 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.
| Week | Morton, MO | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-W41 | — | — | 37 |
| 2026-W42 | — | — | 37 |
| 2026-W43 | — | 40 | 44 |
| 2026-W44 | 31 | 38 | 41 |
| 2026-W45 | 38 | 41 | 44 |
| 2026-W46 | 38 | 41 | 44 |
Compare Morton, MO
- Morton, MO vs St. Louis, IL (St. Louis, IL scores 37)
- Morton, MO vs Springfield, MO (Springfield, MO scores 34)
- Morton, MO vs Columbia, MO (Columbia, MO scores 38)
- Morton, MO vs Joplin, MO (Joplin, MO scores 35)
- Morton, MO vs Jefferson City, MO (Jefferson City, MO scores 40)
Every indicator
What Morton is up against — 68 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: 21.2 deaths per 100,000, better than 50% of cities, down 10 points · 2025, Kansas City, MO-KS (7 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 — 19 out of 100
- Church adherents: 389.8 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 30% of cities · 2020, Ray County, MO · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
- Congregations: 21.6 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 51% of cities · 2020, Ray County, MO · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
- Charitable giving: 0.4 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 19% of cities · 2023, Ray 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, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 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, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 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, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 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, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 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, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 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, Kansas City, MO-KS (6 counties summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
- Christian colleges and universities: 5.7 per million residents, better than 82% of cities · 2024, Kansas City, MO-KS (7 counties summed) · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)
Marriage & family — 66 out of 100
- Children with married parents: 74.4 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, better than 65% of cities · 2020-2024, Ray County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
- Adults 25-44 married: 60.4 % of people 25-44 married, spouse present, better than 87% of cities · 2020-2024, Ray County, MO · Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year
- Cohabiting households: 7.0 % of households that are cohabiting couples, better than 42% of cities · 2020-2024, Ray 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, Morton, MO, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/morton-mo/score
- Download as JSON
- Download as CSV (one row per indicator, the citation on the first line)
- How the score is built (methodology)
- The Q4 2026 release: rankings and every state's table
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