The Town FilesLiberal, Missouri
City in Barton County · population 629 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,000
- Household income
- $65,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 45.8
Liberal is a city of 629 people in Barton County, Missouri. The median home is worth $77,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Missouri towns, quieter than 89% of Missouri towns, better for families than 82% of Missouri towns.
How Liberal 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 Liberal is worth $77,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $65,250, which is more affordable than 99% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $650 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Liberal | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $650 | $855 |
| Median household income | $65,250 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Liberal
| People | Liberal | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Liberal
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 23.2°F. About 45.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Liberal since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 2003 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 47 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 2, 2010.
Severe weather in Barton County since 1996
Barton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: 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 Barton County
Barton County had 3,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,856 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Liberal itself the ACS puts it at 12.9%.
Public schools in Liberal
3 public schools with 284 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERAL HIGH | 9-12 | 110 | 10.0 |
| LIBERAL ELEM. | PK-5 | 110 | 9.2 |
| LIBERAL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 64 | 10.7 |
Towns near Liberal
- Arma, KS10.2 mi · 1,407 people · home $85,400
- Frontenac, KS12.2 mi · 3,382 people · home $165,600
- Lamar, MO13.8 mi · 4,266 people · home $117,200
- Pittsburg, KS14.1 mi · 20,646 people · home $123,200
- Girard, KS18.3 mi · 2,496 people · home $93,600
- Jasper, MO19.4 mi · 906 people · home $126,200
- Fort Scott, KS21.2 mi · 7,552 people · home $100,500
- Nevada, MO21.8 mi · 8,212 people · home $122,700
Liberal questions
Is Liberal, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Liberal scores better for retirees than 76% of Missouri towns and quieter than 89%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Liberal?
The median owner-occupied home in Liberal is valued at $77,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,250, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $650 a month.
What is the weather like in Liberal?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 23.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Liberal get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Liberal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 2003. 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)