The Town FilesMemphis, Missouri
City in Scotland County · population 1,731 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,800
- Household income
- $55,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 37.8
Memphis is a city of 1,731 people in Scotland County, Missouri. The median home is worth $132,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 85% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 76% of Missouri towns.
How Memphis 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 Memphis is worth $132,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $55,125, which is more affordable than 70% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $471 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Memphis | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $471 | $855 |
| Median household income | $55,125 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Memphis
| People | Memphis | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Memphis
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Memphis since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on January 24, 1967 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 10, 1984.
Severe weather in Scotland County since 1996
Scotland County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Scotland County
Scotland County had 1,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,746 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Memphis itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Memphis
2 public schools with 519 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTLAND CO. ELEM. | PK-6 | 274 | 9.8 |
| SCOTLAND CO. HIGH | 7-12 | 245 | 10.2 |
Towns near Memphis
- Lancaster, MO19.5 mi · 675 people · home $154,800
- Edina, MO20.2 mi · 1,012 people · home $85,600
- Queen City, MO21.1 mi · 562 people · home $66,900
- Keosauqua, IA21.9 mi · 936 people · home $98,500
- Bloomfield, IA23.8 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Kahoka, MO23.9 mi · 1,961 people · home $100,000
- Farmington, IA25.8 mi · 579 people · home $81,400
- La Belle, MO27.3 mi · 664 people · home $79,400
Memphis questions
Is Memphis, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Memphis scores better for retirees than 52% of Missouri towns and quieter than 42%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Memphis?
The median owner-occupied home in Memphis is valued at $132,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,125, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $471 a month.
What is the weather like in Memphis?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 19.3 inches of snow.
Does Memphis get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Memphis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on January 24, 1967. 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)