The Town FilesGerald, Missouri
City in Franklin County · population 1,361 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,800
- Household income
- $61,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.0
Gerald is a city of 1,361 people in Franklin County, Missouri. The median home is worth $150,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of Missouri towns, better for families than 91% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 77% of Missouri towns.
How Gerald 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 Gerald is worth $150,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $61,458, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 58.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gerald | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $842 | $855 |
| Median household income | $61,458 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Gerald
| People | Gerald | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in Gerald
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 18.0°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gerald since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 29, 1984 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 15, 1971.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 39,312 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,695 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Gerald itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Gerald
1 public school with 297 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GERALD ELEM. | PK-5 | 297 | 11.0 |
Towns near Gerald
- Owensville, MO9.7 mi · 2,757 people · home $139,800
- New Haven, MO15.4 mi · 2,414 people · home $192,400
- Sullivan, MO15.8 mi · 6,906 people · home $163,200
- Bland, MO17.7 mi · 506 people · home $92,400
- Bourbon, MO17.7 mi · 1,567 people · home $136,800
- Union, MO18.3 mi · 12,348 people · home $205,200
- St. Clair, MO18.6 mi · 4,791 people · home $157,700
- Lake St. Clair, MO18.7 mi · 825 people · home $227,800
Gerald questions
Is Gerald, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gerald scores better for retirees than 50% of Missouri towns and quieter than 98%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Gerald?
The median owner-occupied home in Gerald is valued at $150,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,458, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Gerald?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 18.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 14.2 inches of snow.
Does Gerald get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gerald since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 29, 1984. 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)