The Town FilesHouston, Missouri
City in Texas County · population 2,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,400
- Household income
- $40,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.3
Houston is a city of 2,079 people in Texas County, Missouri. The median home is worth $114,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks quieter than 92% of Missouri towns, better transit than 75% of Missouri towns.
How Houston 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 Houston is worth $114,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $40,000, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $698 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Houston | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $698 | $855 |
| Median household income | $40,000 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Houston
| People | Houston | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 12.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Houston
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 11, 1979 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 27, 2020.
Severe weather in Texas County since 1996
Texas County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: 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 |
Jobs and pay in Texas County
Texas County had 5,867 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,291 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Houston itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in Houston
4 public schools with 1,037 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON ELEM. | PK-5 | 430 | 11.6 |
| HOUSTON HIGH | 9-12 | 364 | 12.6 |
| HOUSTON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 205 | 12.8 |
| EXCEPTIONAL CHILD COOP. | PK-12 | 38 | 3.8 |
Towns near Houston
- Licking, MO13.6 mi · 2,851 people · home $116,900
- Cabool, MO15.5 mi · 1,946 people · home $130,000
- Mountain Grove, MO21.2 mi · 4,313 people · home $87,200
- Willow Springs, MO23.1 mi · 2,164 people · home $135,400
- Mountain View, MO26.7 mi · 2,533 people · home $123,500
- Norwood, MO29.2 mi · 578 people · home $133,200
Houston questions
Is Houston, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Houston scores better for retirees than 37% of Missouri towns and quieter than 92%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Houston?
The median owner-occupied home in Houston is valued at $114,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,000, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $698 a month.
What is the weather like in Houston?
July highs average 87.1°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Houston get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 11, 1979. 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)