The Town FilesSlater, Missouri
City in Saline County · population 1,834 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,300
- Household income
- $39,479
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 37.5
Slater is a city of 1,834 people in Saline County, Missouri. The median home is worth $85,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Missouri towns, hipper than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Slater 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 Slater is worth $85,300, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $39,479, which is more affordable than 77% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $545 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Slater | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $545 | $855 |
| Median household income | $39,479 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Slater
| People | Slater | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Slater
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.0 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Slater since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 2006 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 10, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 30, 1985.
Severe weather in Saline County since 1996
Saline County has been included in 26 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 Saline County
Saline County had 8,879 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,958 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Slater itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Slater
3 public schools with 421 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDER ELEM. | PK-8 | 220 | 10.5 |
| SLATER HIGH | 9-12 | 135 | 12.3 |
| OREARVILLE ELEM. | PK-8 | 66 | 8.3 |
Towns near Slater
- Marshall, MO10.5 mi · 13,806 people · home $147,900
- Glasgow, MO12.2 mi · 1,087 people · home $122,600
- Brunswick, MO14.5 mi · 801 people · home $76,100
- Salisbury, MO19.7 mi · 1,563 people · home $102,400
- Fayette, MO21.0 mi · 2,803 people · home $146,700
- New Franklin, MO22.4 mi · 1,027 people · home $139,500
- Waverly, MO24.3 mi · 784 people · home $117,700
- Boonville, MO24.9 mi · 7,964 people · home $187,900
Slater questions
Is Slater, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Slater scores better for retirees than 57% of Missouri towns and quieter than 72%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Slater?
The median owner-occupied home in Slater is valued at $85,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,479, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $545 a month.
What is the weather like in Slater?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 10.0 inches of snow.
Does Slater get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Slater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 2006. 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)