The Town FilesKnob Noster, Missouri
City in Johnson County · population 2,782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,600
- Household income
- $62,353
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 32.0
Knob Noster is a city of 2,782 people in Johnson County, Missouri. The median home is worth $202,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more of a college town than 91% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Missouri towns.
How Knob Noster 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 Knob Noster is worth $202,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $62,353, which is more affordable than 28% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Knob Noster | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,600 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $826 | $855 |
| Median household income | $62,353 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Knob Noster
| People | Knob Noster | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 28.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Knob Noster
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 18.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Knob Noster since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 12, 2006 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 17, 2004.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 3, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3317: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 16,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,500 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Knob Noster itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Knob Noster
3 public schools with 1,311 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNOB NOSTER ELEM. | K-5 | 512 | 14.6 |
| KNOB NOSTER HIGH | 9-12 | 433 | 12.0 |
| KNOB NOSTER MIDDLE | 6-8 | 366 | 13.6 |
Towns near Knob Noster
- Whiteman AFB, MO2.4 mi · 2,896 people · home $328,800
- Warrensburg, MO8.9 mi · 19,337 people · home $222,200
- Windsor, MO16.4 mi · 2,775 people · home $101,400
- Sedalia, MO18.0 mi · 21,725 people · home $143,000
- Higginsville, MO22.5 mi · 4,817 people · home $166,100
- Odessa, MO27.1 mi · 5,593 people · home $238,200
- Clinton, MO29.6 mi · 9,174 people · home $155,400
Knob Noster questions
Is Knob Noster, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Knob Noster scores better for retirees than 17% of Missouri towns and quieter than 22%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Knob Noster?
The median owner-occupied home in Knob Noster is valued at $202,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,353, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Knob Noster?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 18.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Knob Noster get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Knob Noster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 12, 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)