The Town FilesPeculiar, Missouri
City in Cass County · population 5,621 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,900
- Household income
- $94,519
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 32.1
Peculiar is a city of 5,621 people in Cass County, Missouri. The median home is worth $283,900, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 76% of Missouri towns, more upscale than 72% of Missouri towns.
How Peculiar 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 Peculiar is worth $283,900, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $94,519, which is more affordable than 36% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,275 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peculiar | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,275 | $855 |
| Median household income | $94,519 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Peculiar
| People | Peculiar | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 12.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 25.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Peculiar
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 42.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peculiar since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1977 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 144 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 17, 2023.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 3, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3317: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 17, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1934: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 30,655 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,331 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Peculiar itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Peculiar
4 public schools with 2,762 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAYMORE-PECULIAR SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 1,560 | 15.9 |
| RAYMORE-PECULIAR SOUTH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 648 | 11.6 |
| PECULIAR ELEM. | K-5 | 388 | 12.9 |
| SHULL EARLY LEARNING CENTER | PK-PK | 166 | 11.9 |
Towns near Peculiar
- Raymore, MO5.0 mi · 22,941 people · home $339,100
- Belton, MO6.9 mi · 23,953 people · home $203,200
- Harrisonville, MO8.5 mi · 10,121 people · home $209,200
- Greenwood, MO10.6 mi · 6,021 people · home $286,100
- Grandview, MO10.8 mi · 26,209 people · home $188,500
- Pleasant Hill, MO11.8 mi · 8,777 people · home $278,400
- Louisburg, KS13.6 mi · 4,969 people · home $269,500
- Lee's Summit, MO13.9 mi · 101,108 people · home $340,900
Peculiar questions
Is Peculiar, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peculiar scores better for retirees than 20% of Missouri towns and quieter than 65%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.1).
How much does a house cost in Peculiar?
The median owner-occupied home in Peculiar is valued at $283,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,519, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,275 a month.
What is the weather like in Peculiar?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.7 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does Peculiar get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peculiar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1977. 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)