The Town FilesParma, Missouri
City in New Madrid County · population 555 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $43,300
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 37.9
Parma is a city of 555 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. The median home is worth $43,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Missouri towns, quieter than 84% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 76% of Missouri towns.
How Parma 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 Parma is worth $43,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 0.7 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 100% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $575 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Parma | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $43,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $575 | $855 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Parma
| People | Parma | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Parma
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parma since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 13, 1951 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 2, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 10, 1973.
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 Parma itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Towns near Parma
- Bernie, MO9.4 mi · 1,859 people · home $98,100
- Malden, MO10.0 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Lilbourn, MO11.5 mi · 994 people · home $57,300
- Gideon, MO12.5 mi · 780 people · home $55,500
- Clarkton, MO13.8 mi · 1,009 people · home $47,000
- Portageville, MO14.2 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- New Madrid, MO14.9 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Dexter, MO14.9 mi · 7,927 people · home $137,200
Parma questions
Is Parma, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Parma scores better for retirees than 17% of Missouri towns and quieter than 84%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Parma?
The median owner-occupied home in Parma is valued at $43,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 0.7 times income. Median rent is $575 a month.
What is the weather like in Parma?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.6 inches of snow.
Does Parma get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Parma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 13, 1951. 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)