The Town FilesLilbourn, Missouri
City in New Madrid County · population 994 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $57,300
- Household income
- $40,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 31.8
Lilbourn is a city of 994 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. The median home is worth $57,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks quieter than 86% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 77% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 75% of Missouri towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Missouri With Mild Winters
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Cheapest Homes
- #17 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Missouri
- #19 in 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Mildest Winters
- #23 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Missouri
How Lilbourn 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 Lilbourn is worth $57,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $40,625, which is more affordable than 98% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $646 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lilbourn | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $57,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $646 | $855 |
| Median household income | $40,625 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lilbourn
| People | Lilbourn | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Lilbourn
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 49.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lilbourn since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 22, 1955 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 18, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 6, 1986.
Severe weather in New Madrid County since 1996
New Madrid County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in New Madrid County
New Madrid County had 7,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,792 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Lilbourn itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Lilbourn
1 public school with 240 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LILBOURN ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 240 | 12.6 |
Towns near Lilbourn
- New Madrid, MO3.4 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Parma, MO11.5 mi · 555 people · home $43,300
- Matthews, MO11.7 mi · 534 people · home $108,400
- Portageville, MO12.1 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- Tiptonville, TN16.7 mi · 3,976 people · home $106,500
- East Prairie, MO18.2 mi · 2,943 people · home $68,400
- Morehouse, MO18.2 mi · 741 people · home $56,000
- Gideon, MO19.2 mi · 780 people · home $55,500
Lilbourn questions
Is Lilbourn, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lilbourn scores better for retirees than 72% of Missouri towns and quieter than 86%. 9.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Lilbourn?
The median owner-occupied home in Lilbourn is valued at $57,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,625, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $646 a month.
What is the weather like in Lilbourn?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.3 inches of precipitation a year and 5.5 inches of snow.
Does Lilbourn get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lilbourn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 22, 1955. 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)