The Town FilesClarkton, Missouri
City in Dunklin County · population 1,009 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $47,000
- Household income
- $46,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 27.1
Clarkton is a city of 1,009 people in Dunklin County, Missouri. The median home is worth $47,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Clarkton 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 Clarkton is worth $47,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $46,333, which is more affordable than 99% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $611 a month. 58.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarkton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $47,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $611 | $855 |
| Median household income | $46,333 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clarkton
| People | Clarkton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Clarkton
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarkton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 24, 2018 about 6.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
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 Clarkton itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Clarkton
3 public schools with 322 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARKTON ELEM. | PK-6 | 156 | 12.0 |
| CLARKTON HIGH | 7-12 | 139 | 11.6 |
| BOOTHEEL SCHOOL | K-12 | 27 | 6.8 |
Towns near Clarkton
- Gideon, MO3.5 mi · 780 people · home $55,500
- Holcomb, MO4.7 mi · 642 people · home $108,100
- Campbell, MO6.6 mi · 1,605 people · home $75,300
- Malden, MO10.4 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Piggott, AR13.6 mi · 3,622 people · home $115,500
- Parma, MO13.8 mi · 555 people · home $43,300
- Portageville, MO15.0 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- Bernie, MO15.2 mi · 1,859 people · home $98,100
Clarkton questions
Is Clarkton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarkton scores better for retirees than 28% of Missouri towns and quieter than 55%. 11.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.1).
How much does a house cost in Clarkton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarkton is valued at $47,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,333, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $611 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarkton?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.0 inches of snow.
Does Clarkton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarkton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 24, 2018. 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)