The Town FilesPotosi, Missouri
City in Washington County · population 2,538 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,100
- Household income
- $39,846
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 34.7
Potosi is a city of 2,538 people in Washington County, Missouri. The median home is worth $110,100, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Missouri towns.
How Potosi 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 Potosi is worth $110,100, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $39,846, which is more affordable than 47% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 50.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Potosi | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,100 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $788 | $855 |
| Median household income | $39,846 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Potosi
| People | Potosi | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Potosi
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potosi since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 22, 1969 about 4.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 145 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4939: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4876: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 5,002 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,224 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Potosi itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Potosi
5 public schools with 2,053 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POTOSI HIGH | 9-12 | 679 | 15.8 |
| POTOSI ELEM. | PK-3 | 610 | 11.5 |
| TROJAN INTERMEDIATE | 4-6 | 469 | 13.4 |
| JOHN A. EVANS MIDDLE | 7-8 | 291 | 11.2 |
| CITADEL SCHOOL | K-12 | 4 | 4.0 |
Towns near Potosi
- Bonne Terre, MO12.7 mi · 6,903 people · home $153,000
- Desloge, MO14.5 mi · 4,823 people · home $127,500
- Park Hills, MO17.0 mi · 8,587 people · home $131,300
- De Soto, MO18.4 mi · 6,449 people · home $160,700
- Farmington, MO21.7 mi · 18,217 people · home $196,500
- Hillsboro, MO23.6 mi · 3,473 people · home $221,200
- Festus, MO28.0 mi · 12,706 people · home $223,600
- Sullivan, MO28.6 mi · 6,906 people · home $163,200
Potosi questions
Is Potosi, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Potosi scores better for retirees than 9% of Missouri towns and quieter than 37%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Potosi?
The median owner-occupied home in Potosi is valued at $110,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,846, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Potosi?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Potosi get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potosi since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 22, 1969. 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)