The Town FilesCentralia, Missouri
City in Boone County · population 4,541 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $174,300
- Household income
- $66,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.9
Centralia is a city of 4,541 people in Boone County, Missouri. The median home is worth $174,300, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 91% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Missouri towns.
How Centralia 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 Centralia is worth $174,300, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $66,438, which is more affordable than 58% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $685 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Centralia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $685 | $855 |
| Median household income | $66,438 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Centralia
| People | Centralia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Centralia
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centralia since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 8, 1999 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 26, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 11, 2005.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 98,657 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,677 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Centralia itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Centralia
4 public schools with 1,314 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRALIA HIGH | 9-12 | 409 | 13.6 |
| CENTRALIA INTERMEDIATE | 3-5 | 306 | 16.1 |
| CHANCE ELEM. | PK-2 | 306 | 13.9 |
| CHESTER BOREN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 293 | 13.3 |
Towns near Centralia
- Mexico, MO14.4 mi · 11,469 people · home $139,800
- Columbia, MO20.9 mi · 126,254 people · home $284,600
- Moberly, MO21.6 mi · 13,783 people · home $153,100
- Fulton, MO26.5 mi · 12,600 people · home $155,900
- Ashland, MO28.1 mi · 4,747 people · home $258,500
- Fayette, MO29.9 mi · 2,803 people · home $146,700
Centralia questions
Is Centralia, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Centralia scores better for retirees than 91% of Missouri towns and quieter than 65%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Centralia?
The median owner-occupied home in Centralia is valued at $174,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,438, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $685 a month.
What is the weather like in Centralia?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 16.3 inches of snow.
Does Centralia get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centralia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 8, 1999. 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)