The Town FilesBismarck, Missouri
City in St. Francois County · population 1,239 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,800
- Household income
- $40,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 34.0
Bismarck is a city of 1,239 people in St. Francois County, Missouri. The median home is worth $107,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 71% of Missouri towns.
How Bismarck 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 Bismarck is worth $107,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $40,250, which is more affordable than 54% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $676 a month. 57.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bismarck | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $676 | $855 |
| Median household income | $40,250 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bismarck
| People | Bismarck | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.3% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Bismarck
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bismarck since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 22, 1969 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 2016.
Severe weather in St. Francois County since 1996
St. Francois County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Francois County
St. Francois County had 23,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,743 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bismarck itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Bismarck
2 public schools with 466 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BISMARCK R-V HIGH | 6-12 | 270 | 13.5 |
| BISMARCK R-V ELEM. | PK-5 | 196 | 10.9 |
Towns near Bismarck
- Iron Mountain Lake, MO5.3 mi · 640 people · home $38,600
- Leadwood, MO6.8 mi · 1,178 people · home $63,200
- Doe Run, MO6.9 mi · 737 people · home $129,900
- Park Hills, MO7.5 mi · 8,587 people · home $131,300
- Leadington, MO9.0 mi · 764 people · home $169,600
- Desloge, MO9.3 mi · 4,823 people · home $127,500
- Terre du Lac, MO9.5 mi · 2,478 people · home $199,300
- Pilot Knob, MO10.1 mi · 671 people · home $108,000
Bismarck questions
Is Bismarck, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bismarck scores better for retirees than 11% of Missouri towns and quieter than 69%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Bismarck?
The median owner-occupied home in Bismarck is valued at $107,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,250, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $676 a month.
What is the weather like in Bismarck?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 9.7 inches of snow.
Does Bismarck get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bismarck since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 22, 1969. 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)