The Town Files

Phelps County, Missouri

45,194 people. The median home is worth $206,500 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $58,396.

Towns in Phelps County

Towns in Phelps County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Rolla19,943$187,000$46,20428.2
St. James3,935$142,000$53,45349.3

People and housing

Phelps CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$206,500$153,900
Median rent$798$855
Median household income$58,396$56,368
Median age35.838.6
Bachelor's degree or higher32.4%18.9%
Below the poverty line16.8%14.6%

Jobs and pay

19,225 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,599 a year.

Largest industries in Phelps CountyHealth care & social assistan…2,790 jobs · $58,552Retail2,668 jobs · $33,297Hotels & restaurants1,905 jobs · $20,984Transportation & warehousing1,783 jobs · $59,903Manufacturing1,013 jobs · $66,862Wholesale trade644 jobs · $52,369
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Phelps County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 615 storm events in Phelps County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Phelps County by type since 1996Hail178Heat9Flood46Drought23Tornado25Ice Storm9Heavy Rain32Flash Flood74Winter Storm26Winter Weather16
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Phelps County has been included in 25 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 21, 2025Severe StormDR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires
January 1, 2025Severe StormDR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).