The Town FilesLa Plata, Missouri
City in Macon County · population 1,257 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $105,800
- Household income
- $50,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 44.0
La Plata is a city of 1,257 people in Macon County, Missouri. The median home is worth $105,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 83% of Missouri towns.
How La Plata 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 La Plata is worth $105,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $50,000, which is more affordable than 80% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $334 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Plata | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $105,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $334 | $855 |
| Median household income | $50,000 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in La Plata
| People | La Plata | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in La Plata
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Plata since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 20, 1973 about 4.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 8, 1999.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 2, 1973.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 4,831 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,944 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in La Plata itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in La Plata
2 public schools with 307 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA PLATA HIGH | 7-12 | 161 | 10.1 |
| LA PLATA ELEM. | K-6 | 146 | 8.1 |
Towns near La Plata
- Kirksville, MO12.8 mi · 17,530 people · home $153,900
- Bevier, MO19.2 mi · 636 people · home $94,200
- Macon, MO19.5 mi · 5,457 people · home $151,800
- Edina, MO19.5 mi · 1,012 people · home $85,600
- Clarence, MO22.9 mi · 738 people · home $74,100
- Queen City, MO27.1 mi · 562 people · home $66,900
- Shelbyville, MO28.2 mi · 518 people · home $85,200
- Green City, MO29.9 mi · 602 people · home $106,300
La Plata questions
Is La Plata, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Plata scores better for retirees than 94% of Missouri towns and quieter than 64%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in La Plata?
The median owner-occupied home in La Plata is valued at $105,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,000, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $334 a month.
What is the weather like in La Plata?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 19.3 inches of snow.
Does La Plata get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Plata since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 20, 1973. 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)