The Town FilesCardwell, Missouri
City in Dunklin County · population 561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $38,800
- Household income
- $22,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 23.5
Cardwell is a city of 561 people in Dunklin County, Missouri. The median home is worth $38,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Cardwell 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 Cardwell is worth $38,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $22,500, which is more affordable than 91% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 37.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cardwell | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $38,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $767 | $855 |
| Median household income | $22,500 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 37.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Cardwell
| People | Cardwell | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 56.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Cardwell
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cardwell since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 2, 2025 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on November 15, 1989.
Severe weather in Dunklin County since 1996
Dunklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 10, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4636: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dunklin County
Dunklin County had 9,137 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,543 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Cardwell itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Cardwell
2 public schools with 242 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHLAND ELEM. | PK-5 | 139 | 13.9 |
| SOUTHLAND HIGH | 6-12 | 103 | 10.3 |
Towns near Cardwell
- Senath, MO9.4 mi · 1,593 people · home $79,500
- Leachville, AR9.6 mi · 2,039 people · home $111,800
- Hornersville, MO9.8 mi · 537 people · home $55,800
- Monette, AR11.1 mi · 1,506 people · home $114,200
- Marmaduke, AR11.2 mi · 1,212 people · home $112,200
- Paragould, AR12.3 mi · 29,537 people · home $181,500
- Oak Grove Heights, AR13.1 mi · 1,104 people · home $184,900
- Manila, AR13.3 mi · 3,682 people · home $172,000
Cardwell questions
Is Cardwell, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cardwell scores better for retirees than 38% of Missouri towns and quieter than 56%. 8.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.5).
How much does a house cost in Cardwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Cardwell is valued at $38,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $22,500, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Cardwell?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Cardwell get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cardwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 2, 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)