The Town FilesLeadwood, Missouri
City in St. Francois County · population 1,178 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $63,200
- Household income
- $44,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.1
Leadwood is a city of 1,178 people in St. Francois County, Missouri. The median home is worth $63,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Leadwood 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 Leadwood is worth $63,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $44,783, which is more affordable than 98% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $896 a month. 75.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Leadwood | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $63,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $896 | $855 |
| Median household income | $44,783 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Leadwood
| People | Leadwood | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Leadwood
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leadwood since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 22, 1969 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 8, 2015.
Severe weather in St. Francois County since 1996
St. Francois County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Francois County
St. Francois County had 23,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,743 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Leadwood itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Leadwood
- Terre du Lac, MO3.3 mi · 2,478 people · home $199,300
- Desloge, MO3.9 mi · 4,823 people · home $127,500
- Bonne Terre, MO4.8 mi · 6,903 people · home $153,000
- Park Hills, MO5.8 mi · 8,587 people · home $131,300
- Leadington, MO6.2 mi · 764 people · home $169,600
- Bismarck, MO6.8 mi · 1,239 people · home $107,800
- Doe Run, MO9.4 mi · 737 people · home $129,900
- Lake Timberline, MO9.6 mi · 726 people · home $117,300
Leadwood questions
Is Leadwood, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Leadwood scores better for retirees than 8% of Missouri towns and quieter than 61%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Leadwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Leadwood is valued at $63,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,783, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $896 a month.
What is the weather like in Leadwood?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 9.7 inches of snow.
Does Leadwood get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leadwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 22, 1969. 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)