The Town FilesPolo, Missouri
City in Caldwell County · population 509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,700
- Household income
- $53,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 32.0
Polo is a city of 509 people in Caldwell County, Missouri. The median home is worth $154,700, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 92% of Missouri towns, better for families than 88% of Missouri towns.
How Polo 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 Polo is worth $154,700, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $53,523, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Polo | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | — | $855 |
| Median household income | $53,523 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Polo
| People | Polo | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Polo
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polo since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 14, 1955 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 4, 2003.
Severe weather in Caldwell County since 1996
Caldwell County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Caldwell County
Caldwell County had 1,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,251 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Polo itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Polo
4 public schools with 430 students, about 9.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLO HIGH | 9-12 | 150 | 10.0 |
| POLO ELEM. | PK-4 | 143 | 9.5 |
| POLO MIDDLE | 5-8 | 102 | 11.3 |
| MIRABILE ELEM. | PK-8 | 35 | 7.0 |
Towns near Polo
- Lawson, MO12.8 mi · 2,541 people · home $186,000
- Braymer, MO13.1 mi · 737 people · home $82,400
- Hamilton, MO13.4 mi · 1,690 people · home $165,700
- Lathrop, MO15.1 mi · 2,271 people · home $168,000
- Wood Heights, MO16.0 mi · 757 people · home $212,800
- Cameron, MO16.9 mi · 8,513 people · home $193,500
- Excelsior Springs, MO18.3 mi · 10,553 people · home $186,800
- Richmond, MO19.4 mi · 6,013 people · home $142,600
Polo questions
Is Polo, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Polo scores better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns and quieter than 73%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Polo?
The median owner-occupied home in Polo is valued at $154,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,523, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Polo?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 14.1 inches of snow.
Does Polo get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 14, 1955. 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)