The Town FilesParis, Missouri
City in Monroe County · population 1,161 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,200
- Household income
- $63,487
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 41.5
Paris is a city of 1,161 people in Monroe County, Missouri. The median home is worth $131,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Missouri towns, quieter than 87% of Missouri towns.
How Paris 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 Paris is worth $131,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $63,487, which is more affordable than 80% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $752 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paris | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $752 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,487 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Paris
| People | Paris | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Paris
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 12, 2006 about 3.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 30, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 4, 1985.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, 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 Monroe County
Monroe County had 1,849 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,014 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Paris itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Paris
3 public schools with 468 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARIS ELEM. | PK-6 | 257 | 12.2 |
| PARIS HIGH | 9-12 | 142 | 10.9 |
| PARIS JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 69 | 13.8 |
Towns near Paris
- Madison, MO11.0 mi · 515 people · home $83,800
- Shelbina, MO15.3 mi · 1,613 people · home $86,200
- Perry, MO18.7 mi · 665 people · home $112,100
- Monroe City, MO19.3 mi · 2,652 people · home $159,300
- Centralia, MO19.3 mi · 4,541 people · home $174,300
- Sturgeon, MO22.0 mi · 907 people · home $146,500
- Mexico, MO22.7 mi · 11,469 people · home $139,800
- Clarence, MO23.0 mi · 738 people · home $74,100
Paris questions
Is Paris, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paris scores better for retirees than 80% of Missouri towns and quieter than 87%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Paris?
The median owner-occupied home in Paris is valued at $131,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,487, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $752 a month.
What is the weather like in Paris?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 15.7 inches of snow.
Does Paris get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paris since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 12, 2006. 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)