The Town FilesAppleton City, Missouri
City in St. Clair County · population 1,032 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,200
- Household income
- $49,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 39.7
Appleton City is a city of 1,032 people in St. Clair County, Missouri. The median home is worth $98,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks quieter than 86% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 86% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Appleton City 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 Appleton City is worth $98,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $49,036, which is more affordable than 84% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $557 a month. 58.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Appleton City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $557 | $855 |
| Median household income | $49,036 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.1% | — |
Who lives in Appleton City
| People | Appleton City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Appleton City
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Appleton City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 4, 1956 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 2000.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: 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 |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 1,710 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,737 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Appleton City itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Appleton City
3 public schools with 200 students, about 5.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| APPLETON CITY HIGH | 7-12 | 158 | 8.8 |
| HUDSON ELEM. | PK-8 | 42 | 7.0 |
| APPLETON CITY ELEM. | K-6 | — | — |
Towns near Appleton City
- Lowry City, MO16.9 mi · 613 people · home $82,200
- Butler, MO17.4 mi · 4,220 people · home $145,400
- Clinton, MO18.9 mi · 9,174 people · home $155,400
- Rich Hill, MO19.2 mi · 1,232 people · home $75,600
- Osceola, MO20.9 mi · 909 people · home $127,000
- Adrian, MO22.0 mi · 1,730 people · home $159,500
- El Dorado Springs, MO22.2 mi · 3,493 people · home $103,900
- Archie, MO26.5 mi · 1,268 people · home $192,600
Appleton City questions
Is Appleton City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Appleton City scores better for retirees than 83% of Missouri towns and quieter than 86%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Appleton City?
The median owner-occupied home in Appleton City is valued at $98,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,036, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $557 a month.
What is the weather like in Appleton City?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9.8 inches of snow.
Does Appleton City get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Appleton City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 4, 1956. 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)