The Town FilesAnderson, Missouri
City in McDonald County · population 1,981 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,200
- Household income
- $53,966
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.0
Anderson is a city of 1,981 people in McDonald County, Missouri. The median home is worth $116,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Anderson ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Anderson is worth $116,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $53,966, which is more affordable than 77% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $731 a month. 52.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Anderson | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $731 | $855 |
| Median household income | $53,966 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Anderson
| People | Anderson | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Anderson
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anderson since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 4, 2017 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in McDonald County since 1996
McDonald County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4876: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McDonald County
McDonald County had 5,686 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,246 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Anderson itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Anderson
4 public schools with 2,015 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCDONALD COUNTY HIGH | 9-12 | 1,119 | 15.5 |
| ANDERSON ELEM. | PK-5 | 532 | 13.3 |
| ANDERSON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 257 | 15.1 |
| PINEVILLE PRIMARY | PK-2 | 107 | 13.4 |
Towns near Anderson
- Pineville, MO6.1 mi · 802 people · home $213,100
- Goodman, MO6.2 mi · 1,202 people · home $117,200
- Noel, MO8.1 mi · 2,124 people · home $122,400
- Southwest City, MO13.1 mi · 922 people · home $91,100
- Neosho, MO13.8 mi · 12,590 people · home $163,400
- Seneca, MO16.1 mi · 2,230 people · home $132,600
- Gravette, AR16.1 mi · 3,547 people · home $216,300
- Bella Vista, AR16.2 mi · 30,104 people · home $296,700
Anderson questions
Is Anderson, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Anderson scores better for retirees than 56% of Missouri towns and quieter than 53%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Anderson?
The median owner-occupied home in Anderson is valued at $116,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,966, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $731 a month.
What is the weather like in Anderson?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 9.4 inches of snow.
Does Anderson get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anderson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 4, 2017. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)