The Town FilesBelle, Missouri
City in Maries County · population 1,381 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $151,000
- Household income
- $55,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 35.4
Belle is a city of 1,381 people in Maries County, Missouri. The median home is worth $151,000, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Missouri towns, quieter than 90% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 70% of Missouri towns.
How Belle 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 Belle is worth $151,000, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $55,192, which is more affordable than 54% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $524 a month. 56.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belle | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $524 | $855 |
| Median household income | $55,192 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Belle
| People | Belle | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Belle
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 22.4°F. About 43.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 29, 1984 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 30, 2004.
Severe weather in Maries County since 1996
Maries County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Maries County
Maries County had 1,381 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,788 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Belle itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Belle
2 public schools with 501 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BELLE ELEM. | PK-4 | 264 | 12.0 |
| BELLE HIGH | 9-12 | 237 | 11.9 |
Towns near Belle
- Bland, MO4.9 mi · 506 people · home $92,400
- Owensville, MO12.9 mi · 2,757 people · home $139,800
- Vienna, MO14.1 mi · 581 people · home $159,400
- Linn, MO15.0 mi · 1,350 people · home $165,800
- Indian Lake, MO19.3 mi · 689 people · home $193,100
- St. James, MO20.4 mi · 3,935 people · home $142,000
- Gerald, MO22.6 mi · 1,361 people · home $150,800
- Cuba, MO22.8 mi · 3,181 people · home $136,600
Belle questions
Is Belle, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belle scores better for retirees than 58% of Missouri towns and quieter than 90%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Belle?
The median owner-occupied home in Belle is valued at $151,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,192, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $524 a month.
What is the weather like in Belle?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 22.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.1 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Belle get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 29, 1984. 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)