The Town FilesElsberry, Missouri
City in Lincoln County · population 1,937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,000
- Household income
- $49,760
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 30.4
Elsberry is a city of 1,937 people in Lincoln County, Missouri. The median home is worth $139,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Elsberry 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 Elsberry is worth $139,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $49,760, which is more affordable than 47% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $865 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elsberry | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $865 | $855 |
| Median household income | $49,760 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elsberry
| People | Elsberry | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.4 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 34.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Elsberry
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 41.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsberry since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 13, 2006 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 31, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 12,799 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,839 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Elsberry itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Elsberry
3 public schools with 838 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARENCE CANNON ELEM. | PK-4 | 310 | 12.4 |
| IDA CANNON MIDDLE | 5-8 | 280 | 14.7 |
| ELSBERRY HIGH | 9-12 | 248 | 14.6 |
Towns near Elsberry
- Hardin, IL8.9 mi · 801 people · home $89,000
- Winfield, MO12.3 mi · 1,518 people · home $208,100
- Troy, MO16.7 mi · 12,686 people · home $226,500
- Moscow Mills, MO17.1 mi · 3,317 people · home $196,400
- Pleasant Hill, IL19.6 mi · 924 people · home $78,200
- Flint Hill, MO21.4 mi · 981 people · home $475,500
- St. Paul, MO22.2 mi · 3,005 people · home $443,600
- Carrollton, IL22.2 mi · 2,485 people · home $114,000
Elsberry questions
Is Elsberry, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elsberry scores better for retirees than 25% of Missouri towns and quieter than 52%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.4).
How much does a house cost in Elsberry?
The median owner-occupied home in Elsberry is valued at $139,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,760, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $865 a month.
What is the weather like in Elsberry?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.2 inches of precipitation a year and 16.3 inches of snow.
Does Elsberry get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsberry since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 13, 2006. 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)