The Town FilesClarence, Missouri
City in Shelby County · population 738 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,100
- Household income
- $31,734
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 51.1
Clarence is a city of 738 people in Shelby County, Missouri. The median home is worth $74,100, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 93% of Missouri towns, quieter than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Clarence 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 Clarence is worth $74,100, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $31,734, which is more affordable than 74% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $638 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarence | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,100 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $638 | $855 |
| Median household income | $31,734 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Clarence
| People | Clarence | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Clarence
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarence since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 23, 1975 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 10, 2014.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 27 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 |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: 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 |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 1,781 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,151 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Clarence itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Towns near Clarence
- Macon, MO11.2 mi · 5,457 people · home $151,800
- Shelbina, MO12.2 mi · 1,613 people · home $86,200
- Shelbyville, MO12.5 mi · 518 people · home $85,200
- Bevier, MO16.1 mi · 636 people · home $94,200
- Madison, MO18.7 mi · 515 people · home $83,800
- La Plata, MO22.9 mi · 1,257 people · home $105,800
- Paris, MO23.0 mi · 1,161 people · home $131,200
- Moberly, MO24.3 mi · 13,783 people · home $153,100
Clarence questions
Is Clarence, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarence scores better for retirees than 99% of Missouri towns and quieter than 84%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Clarence?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarence is valued at $74,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,734, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $638 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarence?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 15.7 inches of snow.
Does Clarence get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 23, 1975. 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)