The Town FilesNoel, Missouri
City in McDonald County · population 2,124 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,400
- Household income
- $41,483
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 28.1
Noel is a city of 2,124 people in McDonald County, Missouri. The median home is worth $122,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 73% of Missouri towns.
How Noel 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 Noel is worth $122,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $41,483, which is more affordable than 36% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $641 a month. 30.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Noel | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $641 | $855 |
| Median household income | $41,483 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 30.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Noel
| People | Noel | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 34.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 34.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Noel
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Noel since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2011 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 81 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in McDonald County since 1996
McDonald County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4876: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: 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 |
Jobs and pay in McDonald County
McDonald County had 5,686 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,246 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Noel itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Noel
2 public schools with 482 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOEL ELEM. | 3-8 | 352 | 12.6 |
| PINEVILLE ELEM. | 3-8 | 130 | 10.0 |
Towns near Noel
- Pineville, MO5.9 mi · 802 people · home $213,100
- Southwest City, MO6.8 mi · 922 people · home $91,100
- Anderson, MO8.1 mi · 1,981 people · home $116,200
- Gravette, AR10.3 mi · 3,547 people · home $216,300
- Bella Vista, AR13.4 mi · 30,104 people · home $296,700
- Decatur, AR13.4 mi · 1,773 people · home $157,600
- Goodman, MO14.4 mi · 1,202 people · home $117,200
- Centerton, AR16.7 mi · 17,792 people · home $338,500
Noel questions
Is Noel, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Noel scores better for retirees than 10% of Missouri towns and quieter than 44%. 7.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.1).
How much does a house cost in Noel?
The median owner-occupied home in Noel is valued at $122,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,483, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $641 a month.
What is the weather like in Noel?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 9.4 inches of snow.
Does Noel get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Noel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2011. 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)