The Town FilesSmithton, Missouri
City in Pettis County · population 506 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,400
- Household income
- $55,288
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 36.7
Smithton is a city of 506 people in Pettis County, Missouri. The median home is worth $116,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks quieter than 90% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 71% of Missouri towns.
How Smithton 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 Smithton is worth $116,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $55,288, which is more affordable than 80% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $929 a month. 84.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $929 | $855 |
| Median household income | $55,288 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 84.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Smithton
| People | Smithton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 36.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Smithton
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 12, 1980 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 101 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Pettis County since 1996
Pettis County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 9, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1980: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Pettis County
Pettis County had 19,456 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,616 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Smithton itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Smithton
2 public schools with 522 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMITHTON ELEM. | PK-6 | 299 | 12.5 |
| SMITHTON HIGH | 7-12 | 223 | 10.6 |
Towns near Smithton
- Sedalia, MO7.9 mi · 21,725 people · home $143,000
- Cole Camp, MO16.4 mi · 1,104 people · home $171,500
- Pilot Grove, MO16.5 mi · 665 people · home $133,000
- Tipton, MO16.9 mi · 2,920 people · home $130,200
- Stover, MO17.4 mi · 1,006 people · home $151,500
- La Monte, MO18.9 mi · 1,014 people · home $110,900
- Versailles, MO21.7 mi · 2,539 people · home $117,500
- Lincoln, MO23.6 mi · 1,144 people · home $142,600
Smithton questions
Is Smithton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithton scores better for retirees than 59% of Missouri towns and quieter than 90%. 7.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Smithton?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithton is valued at $116,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,288, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $929 a month.
What is the weather like in Smithton?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 13.1 inches of snow.
Does Smithton get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 12, 1980. 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)