The Town FilesSmithville, Missouri
City in Clay County · population 10,406 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $290,600
- Household income
- $101,165
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.4
Smithville is a city of 10,406 people in Clay County, Missouri. The median home is worth $290,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for families than 93% of Missouri towns, more upscale than 85% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 85% of Missouri towns.
How Smithville 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 Smithville is worth $290,600, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $101,165, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,323 a month. 84.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,600 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,323 | $855 |
| Median household income | $101,165 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 84.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Smithville
| People | Smithville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Smithville
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithville since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1961 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 115 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 13, 1965.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 25 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 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2011 | Flood | EM-3325: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 111,855 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,093 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Smithville itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Smithville
5 public schools with 2,536 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithville High | 9-12 | 884 | 16.4 |
| Eagle Heights Elementary | K-6 | 465 | 15.0 |
| Horizon Elementary | K-6 | 435 | 15.0 |
| Smithville Middle | 7-8 | 399 | 12.9 |
| Maple Elementary | PK-6 | 353 | 10.4 |
Towns near Smithville
- Platte City, MO10.2 mi · 4,784 people · home $210,800
- Kearney, MO11.7 mi · 10,404 people · home $298,400
- Gladstone, MO12.7 mi · 27,063 people · home $231,500
- Pleasant Valley, MO13.3 mi · 2,743 people · home $202,000
- Liberty, MO13.5 mi · 30,167 people · home $283,300
- Parkville, MO14.5 mi · 7,117 people · home $573,500
- Riverside, MO15.9 mi · 4,013 people · home $411,300
- North Kansas City, MO17.8 mi · 4,467 people · home $197,500
Smithville questions
Is Smithville, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithville scores better for retirees than 36% of Missouri towns and quieter than 45%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Smithville?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithville is valued at $290,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,165, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,323 a month.
What is the weather like in Smithville?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 17.6 inches of snow.
Does Smithville get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1961. 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)