The Town FilesDe Soto, Missouri
City in Jefferson County · population 6,449 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,700
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 31.2
De Soto is a city of 6,449 people in Jefferson County, Missouri. The median home is worth $160,700, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more vibrant than 71% of Missouri towns, hipper than 71% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 70% of Missouri towns.
How De Soto 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 De Soto is worth $160,700, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 31% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $809 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Soto | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $809 | $855 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in De Soto
| People | De Soto | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 36.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in De Soto
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 22, 1981 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 12, 1981.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 49,458 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,615 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in De Soto itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in De Soto
4 public schools with 2,027 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DESOTO SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 858 | 16.5 |
| VINELAND ELEM. | K-6 | 639 | 11.4 |
| DESOTO JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 380 | 13.6 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | PK-PK | 150 | 15.0 |
Towns near De Soto
- Hillsboro, MO6.4 mi · 3,473 people · home $221,200
- Festus, MO9.9 mi · 12,706 people · home $223,600
- Crystal City, MO11.2 mi · 4,740 people · home $185,800
- Herculaneum, MO12.2 mi · 4,672 people · home $234,300
- Pevely, MO13.4 mi · 6,026 people · home $219,600
- Bonne Terre, MO15.2 mi · 6,903 people · home $153,000
- Barnhart, MO16.0 mi · 5,832 people · home $229,200
- Imperial, MO17.5 mi · 4,407 people · home $228,700
De Soto questions
Is De Soto, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Soto scores better for retirees than 15% of Missouri towns and quieter than 43%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.2).
How much does a house cost in De Soto?
The median owner-occupied home in De Soto is valued at $160,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $809 a month.
What is the weather like in De Soto?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 9.1 inches of snow.
Does De Soto get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 22, 1981. 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)