The Town Files

Lawrence County, Missouri

38,593 people. The median home is worth $175,100 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $61,215.

Towns in Lawrence County

Towns in Lawrence County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Aurora7,219$124,400$49,84843.2
Mount Vernon4,526$186,800$53,25535.3

People and housing

Lawrence CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$175,100$153,900
Median rent$800$855
Median household income$61,215$56,368
Median age38.838.6
Bachelor's degree or higher16.9%18.9%
Below the poverty line14.5%14.6%

Jobs and pay

8,920 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,246 a year.

Largest industries in Lawrence CountyRetail1,381 jobs · $34,085Manufacturing1,245 jobs · $63,002Hotels & restaurants731 jobs · $18,519Transportation & warehousing538 jobs · $57,959Construction466 jobs · $61,420Wholesale trade240 jobs · $54,382
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Lawrence County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 782 storm events in Lawrence County from 1996 to 2026, with 14 deaths.

Storm events in Lawrence County by type since 1996Hail219Heat9Flood58Drought36Tornado22High Wind8Ice Storm8Heavy Rain21Flash Flood115Winter Storm30
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Lawrence County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 9, 2025Severe StormDR-4876: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3482: Covid-19
June 2, 2017FloodDR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding
January 21, 2016FloodDR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
January 2, 2016FloodEM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).