The Town FilesPurdy, Missouri
City in Barry County · population 1,031 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,300
- Household income
- $36,711
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 30.8
Purdy is a city of 1,031 people in Barry County, Missouri. The median home is worth $92,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Purdy 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 Purdy is worth $92,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $36,711, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $539 a month. 61.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Purdy | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $539 | $855 |
| Median household income | $36,711 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 61.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Purdy
| People | Purdy | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 34.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 36.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Purdy
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 6.7 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
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Purdy since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 10, 2008 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 254 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 20, 1970.
Severe weather in Barry County since 1996
Barry County has been included in 29 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 |
| 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 |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Barry County
Barry County had 13,187 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,851 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Purdy itself the ACS puts it at 12.3%.
Public schools in Purdy
3 public schools with 604 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PURDY ELEM. | K-6 | 304 | 10.9 |
| PURDY HIGH | 7-12 | 263 | 9.7 |
| Purdy Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 37 | 18.5 |
Towns near Purdy
- Monett, MO7.1 mi · 9,576 people · home $167,700
- Wheaton, MO8.5 mi · 672 people · home $120,800
- Pierce City, MO10.0 mi · 1,251 people · home $135,600
- Cassville, MO10.1 mi · 3,190 people · home $155,300
- Exeter, MO10.3 mi · 733 people · home $101,500
- Verona, MO12.2 mi · 507 people · home $90,000
- Aurora, MO15.2 mi · 7,219 people · home $124,400
- Granby, MO20.2 mi · 2,050 people · home $104,700
Purdy questions
Is Purdy, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Purdy scores better for retirees than 32% of Missouri towns and quieter than 62%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.8).
How much does a house cost in Purdy?
The median owner-occupied home in Purdy is valued at $92,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,711, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $539 a month.
What is the weather like in Purdy?
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 6.7 inches of snow.
Does Purdy get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Purdy 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)