The Town FilesHamilton, Missouri
City in Caldwell County · population 1,690 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,700
- Household income
- $65,213
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 36.1
Hamilton is a city of 1,690 people in Caldwell County, Missouri. The median home is worth $165,700, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 80% of Missouri towns, better for families than 74% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Missouri towns.
How Hamilton 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 Hamilton is worth $165,700, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,213, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $685 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hamilton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $685 | $855 |
| Median household income | $65,213 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hamilton
| People | Hamilton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Hamilton
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 23, 1975 about 3.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 18, 1959.
Severe weather in Caldwell County since 1996
Caldwell County has been included in 24 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Caldwell County
Caldwell County had 1,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,251 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Hamilton itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Hamilton
4 public schools with 637 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAMILTON ELEM. | PK-5 | 274 | 9.8 |
| PENNEY HIGH | 9-12 | 192 | 10.1 |
| HAMILTON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 147 | 12.3 |
| NEW YORK ELEM. | PK-8 | 24 | 4.8 |
Towns near Hamilton
- Gallatin, MO11.7 mi · 1,821 people · home $137,500
- Cameron, MO12.2 mi · 8,513 people · home $193,500
- Polo, MO13.4 mi · 509 people · home $154,700
- Braymer, MO15.3 mi · 737 people · home $82,400
- Jamesport, MO19.2 mi · 559 people · home $83,800
- Lathrop, MO21.0 mi · 2,271 people · home $168,000
- Maysville, MO21.8 mi · 1,095 people · home $154,000
- Lawson, MO24.4 mi · 2,541 people · home $186,000
Hamilton questions
Is Hamilton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hamilton scores better for retirees than 68% of Missouri towns and quieter than 61%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Hamilton?
The median owner-occupied home in Hamilton is valued at $165,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,213, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $685 a month.
What is the weather like in Hamilton?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.6 inches of snow.
Does Hamilton get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 23, 1975. 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)