The Town FilesSouthwest City, Missouri
Town in McDonald County · population 922 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,100
- Household income
- $44,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 28.2
Southwest City is a town of 922 people in McDonald County, Missouri. The median home is worth $91,100, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 73% of Missouri towns.
How Southwest 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 Southwest City is worth $91,100, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $44,625, which is more affordable than 84% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $622 a month. 55.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southwest City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,100 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $622 | $855 |
| Median household income | $44,625 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Southwest City
| People | Southwest City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 36.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Southwest City
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 61 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southwest City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2011 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in McDonald County since 1996
McDonald County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4876: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: 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 McDonald County
McDonald County had 5,686 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,246 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Southwest City itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Southwest City
2 public schools with 594 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHWEST CITY ELEM. | PK-8 | 339 | 12.1 |
| NOEL PRIMARY | PK-2 | 255 | 12.8 |
Towns near Southwest City
- Noel, MO6.8 mi · 2,124 people · home $122,400
- Grove, OK11.0 mi · 6,956 people · home $244,300
- Jay, OK12.2 mi · 2,425 people · home $107,900
- Pineville, MO12.6 mi · 802 people · home $213,100
- Anderson, MO13.1 mi · 1,981 people · home $116,200
- Decatur, AR14.3 mi · 1,773 people · home $157,600
- Gravette, AR14.6 mi · 3,547 people · home $216,300
- Copeland, OK15.8 mi · 1,511 people · home $123,500
Southwest City questions
Is Southwest City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southwest City scores better for retirees than 10% of Missouri towns and quieter than 44%. 8.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.2).
How much does a house cost in Southwest City?
The median owner-occupied home in Southwest City is valued at $91,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,625, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $622 a month.
What is the weather like in Southwest City?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Southwest City get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southwest City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2011. 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)