The Town FilesScott City, Missouri
City in Scott County · population 4,346 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $147,500
- Household income
- $62,599
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 35.0
Scott City is a city of 4,346 people in Scott County, Missouri. The median home is worth $147,500, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900).
How Scott 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 Scott City is worth $147,500, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $62,599, which is more affordable than 70% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $933 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scott City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $933 | $855 |
| Median household income | $62,599 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Scott City
| People | Scott City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Scott City
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 26.2°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scott City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on January 11, 2020 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 27 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4877: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 16,179 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,793 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Scott City itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Scott City
3 public schools with 811 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT CITY ELEM. | PK-4 | 300 | 13.0 |
| SCOTT CITY HIGH | 9-12 | 276 | 13.1 |
| SCOTT CITY MIDDLE | 5-8 | 235 | 11.2 |
Towns near Scott City
- Cape Girardeau, MO6.0 mi · 39,540 people · home $196,300
- Chaffee, MO7.4 mi · 3,057 people · home $117,400
- Jackson, MO12.5 mi · 15,481 people · home $240,000
- Anna, IL23.2 mi · 4,303 people · home $134,300
- Sikeston, MO23.7 mi · 16,291 people · home $168,800
- Charleston, MO24.0 mi · 5,056 people · home $123,700
Scott City questions
Is Scott City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scott City scores better for retirees than 63% of Missouri towns and quieter than 62%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Scott City?
The median owner-occupied home in Scott City is valued at $147,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,599, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $933 a month.
What is the weather like in Scott City?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 26.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Scott City get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scott City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on January 11, 2020. 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)