The Town FilesPierce City, Missouri
City in Lawrence County · population 1,251 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $135,600
- Household income
- $51,121
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 29.0
Pierce City is a city of 1,251 people in Lawrence County, Missouri. The median home is worth $135,600, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Pierce City 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 Pierce City is worth $135,600, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $51,121, which is more affordable than 54% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $776 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pierce City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,600 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $776 | $855 |
| Median household income | $51,121 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pierce City
| People | Pierce City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 38.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Pierce City
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pierce City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 10, 2008 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 236 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 100 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 9, 2017.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 20 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 |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 8,920 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,246 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Pierce City itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Pierce City
3 public schools with 712 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL ELEM. | PK-5 | 352 | 14.1 |
| PIERCE CITY HIGH | 9-12 | 204 | 11.3 |
| PIERCE CITY MIDDLE | 6-8 | 156 | 12.0 |
Towns near Pierce City
- Monett, MO4.6 mi · 9,576 people · home $167,700
- Purdy, MO10.0 mi · 1,031 people · home $92,300
- Sarcoxie, MO10.8 mi · 1,406 people · home $94,100
- Verona, MO11.8 mi · 507 people · home $90,000
- Wheaton, MO13.1 mi · 672 people · home $120,800
- Granby, MO14.5 mi · 2,050 people · home $104,700
- Mount Vernon, MO14.9 mi · 4,526 people · home $186,800
- Aurora, MO15.8 mi · 7,219 people · home $124,400
Pierce City questions
Is Pierce City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pierce City scores better for retirees than 10% of Missouri towns and quieter than 61%. 8.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.0).
How much does a house cost in Pierce City?
The median owner-occupied home in Pierce City is valued at $135,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,121, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $776 a month.
What is the weather like in Pierce City?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 6.1 inches of snow.
Does Pierce City get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pierce City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 10, 2008. 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)