The Town FilesChillicothe, Missouri
City in Livingston County · population 9,107 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,000
- Household income
- $54,493
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.2
Chillicothe is a city of 9,107 people in Livingston County, Missouri. The median home is worth $127,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 85% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 77% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 74% of Missouri towns.
How Chillicothe 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 Chillicothe is worth $127,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $54,493, which is more affordable than 74% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $782 a month. 63.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chillicothe | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $782 | $855 |
| Median household income | $54,493 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chillicothe
| People | Chillicothe | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Chillicothe
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chillicothe since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 24, 2021 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 18, 2006.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 23 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 6,156 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,944 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Chillicothe itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Chillicothe
7 public schools with 1,803 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHILLICOTHE HIGH | 9-12 | 591 | 18.5 |
| CHILLICOTHE MIDDLE | 6-8 | 371 | 14.8 |
| CHILLICOTHE ELEM | PK-1 | 332 | 20.8 |
| DEWEY ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 254 | 14.9 |
| FIELD ELEM. | 2-3 | 240 | 13.3 |
| VERELLE PENISTON SCHOOL | K-12 | 15 | 7.5 |
| GRAND RIVER TECHNICAL SCH. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Chillicothe
- Trenton, MO20.0 mi · 5,609 people · home $99,500
- Brookfield, MO24.9 mi · 4,111 people · home $102,100
- Carrollton, MO29.9 mi · 3,514 people · home $110,200
Chillicothe questions
Is Chillicothe, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chillicothe scores better for retirees than 60% of Missouri towns and quieter than 33%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Chillicothe?
The median owner-occupied home in Chillicothe is valued at $127,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,493, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $782 a month.
What is the weather like in Chillicothe?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 13.9 inches of snow.
Does Chillicothe get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chillicothe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 24, 2021. 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)