The Town FilesNevada, Missouri
City in Vernon County · population 8,212 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,700
- Household income
- $42,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.1
Nevada is a city of 8,212 people in Vernon County, Missouri. The median home is worth $122,700, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Nevada 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 Nevada is worth $122,700, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $42,813, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $720 a month. 52.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nevada | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $720 | $855 |
| Median household income | $42,813 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Nevada
| People | Nevada | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Nevada
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nevada since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 17, 1995 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 9, 2017.
Severe weather in Vernon County since 1996
Vernon County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4885: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Vernon County
Vernon County had 6,582 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,600 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Nevada itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Nevada
8 public schools with 2,371 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEVADA HIGH | 9-12 | 768 | 17.1 |
| NEVADA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 508 | 12.7 |
| TRUMAN ELEM. | 3-5 | 501 | 13.9 |
| BRYAN ELEM. | PK-1 | 400 | 14.3 |
| BENTON ELEM. | 2-2 | 173 | 13.3 |
| CEDAR RIDGE SCHOOL | K-12 | 21 | 7.0 |
| NEVADA REGIONAL TECH.-CTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
| HEARTLAND R-V SCH. | 2-12 | — | — |
Towns near Nevada
- El Dorado Springs, MO18.1 mi · 3,493 people · home $103,900
- Fort Scott, KS19.3 mi · 7,552 people · home $100,500
- Lamar, MO24.6 mi · 4,266 people · home $117,200
- Butler, MO28.6 mi · 4,220 people · home $145,400
Nevada questions
Is Nevada, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nevada scores better for retirees than 17% of Missouri towns and quieter than 15%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Nevada?
The median owner-occupied home in Nevada is valued at $122,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,813, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $720 a month.
What is the weather like in Nevada?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 6.4 inches of snow.
Does Nevada get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nevada since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 17, 1995. 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)