The Town FilesSalisbury, Missouri
City in Chariton County · population 1,563 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $102,400
- Household income
- $65,329
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 32.7
Salisbury is a city of 1,563 people in Chariton County, Missouri. The median home is worth $102,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 92% of Missouri towns.
- #8 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Missouri
- #10 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Missouri
- #10 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Missouri
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Missouri
- #15 in 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
How Salisbury 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 Salisbury is worth $102,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $65,329, which is more affordable than 94% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $721 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salisbury | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $721 | $855 |
| Median household income | $65,329 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Salisbury
| People | Salisbury | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Salisbury
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 18.3°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salisbury since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 12, 1970 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on July 5, 1969.
Severe weather in Chariton County since 1996
Chariton County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Chariton County
Chariton County had 1,837 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,334 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Salisbury itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Salisbury
2 public schools with 480 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALISBURY HIGH | 7-12 | 249 | 10.0 |
| SALISBURY ELEM. | PK-6 | 231 | 11.0 |
Towns near Salisbury
- Glasgow, MO13.6 mi · 1,087 people · home $122,600
- Huntsville, MO13.8 mi · 1,376 people · home $111,400
- Brunswick, MO17.3 mi · 801 people · home $76,100
- Moberly, MO19.5 mi · 13,783 people · home $153,100
- Slater, MO19.7 mi · 1,834 people · home $85,300
- Fayette, MO20.1 mi · 2,803 people · home $146,700
- Marceline, MO21.7 mi · 2,123 people · home $96,700
- Bevier, MO26.0 mi · 636 people · home $94,200
Salisbury questions
Is Salisbury, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salisbury scores better for retirees than 98% of Missouri towns and quieter than 74%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Salisbury?
The median owner-occupied home in Salisbury is valued at $102,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,329, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $721 a month.
What is the weather like in Salisbury?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 18.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 13.5 inches of snow.
Does Salisbury get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salisbury since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 12, 1970. 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)