The Town FilesJoplin, Missouri
City in Jasper County · population 51,762 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $168,300
- Household income
- $52,097
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 38.5
Joplin is a city of 51,762 people in Jasper County, Missouri. The median home is worth $168,300, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 86% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 84% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 82% of Missouri towns.
How Joplin 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 Joplin is worth $168,300, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $52,097, which is more affordable than 28% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $962 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Joplin | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $962 | $855 |
| Median household income | $52,097 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Joplin
| People | Joplin | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Joplin
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Joplin since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 22, 2011 about 1.4 miles from the town center and killed 161. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 167 deaths and 1,273 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 175 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 26, 2006.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 59,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,009 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Joplin itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Joplin
18 public schools with 7,771 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOPLIN HIGH | 9-12 | 2,247 | 18.4 |
| EAST MIDDLE | 6-8 | 586 | 14.3 |
| SOUTH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 575 | 14.0 |
| NORTH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 542 | 12.6 |
| CECIL FLOYD ELEM. | K-5 | 505 | 12.3 |
| IRVING ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 441 | 11.9 |
| SOARING HEIGHTS ELEM. | K-5 | 424 | 12.8 |
| Dover Hill Elementary | K-5 | 422 | 13.2 |
| STAPLETON ELEM. | K-5 | 399 | 12.9 |
| MCKINLEY ELEM. | K-5 | 307 | 11.0 |
| JOPLIN EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | PK-PK | 297 | 17.5 |
| KELSEY NORMAN ELEM. | K-5 | 283 | 14.2 |
Towns near Joplin
- Webb City, MO4.9 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Carl Junction, MO6.6 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Galena, KS7.4 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
- Oronogo, MO8.3 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
- Carthage, MO11.0 mi · 15,522 people · home $146,800
- Baxter Springs, KS13.4 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
- Neosho, MO17.3 mi · 12,590 people · home $163,400
- Columbus, KS20.0 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
Joplin questions
Is Joplin, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Joplin scores better for retirees than 18% of Missouri towns and quieter than 16%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Joplin?
The median owner-occupied home in Joplin is valued at $168,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,097, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $962 a month.
What is the weather like in Joplin?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8.0 inches of snow.
Does Joplin get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Joplin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 22, 2011. 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)