The Town FilesDoniphan, Missouri
City in Ripley County · population 1,781 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,400
- Household income
- $37,650
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 33.9
Doniphan is a city of 1,781 people in Ripley County, Missouri. The median home is worth $110,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Doniphan 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 Doniphan is worth $110,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $37,650, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $664 a month. 57.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Doniphan | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $664 | $855 |
| Median household income | $37,650 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Doniphan
| People | Doniphan | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Doniphan
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.4°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Doniphan since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 14, 2025 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 27, 1998.
Severe weather in Ripley County since 1996
Ripley County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4939: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ripley County
Ripley County had 2,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $31,859 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Doniphan itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Doniphan
7 public schools with 1,651 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONIPHAN HIGH | 9-12 | 474 | 14.8 |
| DONIPHAN ELEM. | PK-2 | 361 | 12.0 |
| DONIPHAN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 358 | 13.3 |
| DONIPHAN INTERMEDIATE | 3-5 | 329 | 13.2 |
| RIPLEY CO. ELEM. | PK-8 | 117 | 7.8 |
| CURRENT RIVER SCHOOL | K-12 | 12 | 6.0 |
| CURRENT RIVER CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Doniphan
- Fairdealing, MO12.4 mi · 543 people · home $176,400
- Corning, AR19.6 mi · 3,227 people · home $89,500
- Poplar Bluff, MO24.6 mi · 16,225 people · home $119,800
- Pocahontas, AR26.2 mi · 7,371 people · home $120,000
- Van Buren, MO28.9 mi · 747 people · home $103,400
Doniphan questions
Is Doniphan, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Doniphan scores better for retirees than 24% of Missouri towns and quieter than 53%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Doniphan?
The median owner-occupied home in Doniphan is valued at $110,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,650, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $664 a month.
What is the weather like in Doniphan?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Doniphan get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Doniphan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 14, 2025. 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)