The Town FilesBenton, Missouri
City in Scott County · population 866 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,300
- Household income
- $86,023
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 45.9
Benton is a city of 866 people in Scott County, Missouri. The median home is worth $254,300, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Missouri towns, quieter than 79% of Missouri towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $254,300, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $86,023, which is more affordable than 36% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $889 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $889 | $855 |
| Median household income | $86,023 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 26.2°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 16, 2025 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4877: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 16,179 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,793 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Benton
4 public schools with 1,122 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT CO. ELEM. | PK-5 | 401 | 12.9 |
| THOMAS W. KELLY HIGH | 9-12 | 315 | 13.7 |
| KELSO ELEM. | PK-8 | 210 | 13.1 |
| SCOTT CO. MIDDLE | 6-8 | 196 | 12.3 |
Towns near Benton
- Morley, MO4.8 mi · 630 people · home $84,300
- Oran, MO5.2 mi · 1,195 people · home $135,000
- Kelso, MO6.4 mi · 554 people · home $215,400
- Chaffee, MO7.9 mi · 3,057 people · home $117,400
- Scott City, MO8.7 mi · 4,346 people · home $147,500
- Olive Branch, IL13.0 mi · 650 people · home $61,500
- Miner, MO13.4 mi · 916 people · home $131,600
- Bertrand, MO14.5 mi · 718 people · home $86,300
Benton questions
Is Benton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 77% of Missouri towns and quieter than 79%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $254,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,023, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $889 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 26.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 16, 2025. 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)