The Town FilesSt. Joseph, Missouri
City in Buchanan County · population 72,473 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,200
- Household income
- $57,956
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.1
St. Joseph is a city of 72,473 people in Buchanan County, Missouri. The median home is worth $154,200, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Missouri towns, hipper than 88% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 86% of Missouri towns.
How St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph is worth $154,200, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $57,956, which is more affordable than 54% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $898 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Joseph | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $898 | $855 |
| Median household income | $57,956 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in St. Joseph
| People | St. Joseph | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in St. Joseph
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Joseph since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 10, 1965 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 11, 2000.
Severe weather in Buchanan County since 1996
Buchanan County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 20, 2019 | Flood | DR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buchanan County
Buchanan County had 45,842 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,558 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in St. Joseph itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in St. Joseph
22 public schools with 8,035 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL HIGH | 9-12 | 1,720 | 15.6 |
| LAFAYETTE HIGH | 9-12 | 680 | 13.6 |
| CARDEN PARK ELEM | PK-6 | 604 | 12.6 |
| LINDBERGH ELEM. | K-5 | 511 | 15.0 |
| OAK GROVE ELEM | PK-6 | 506 | 15.8 |
| TRUMAN MIDDLE | 7-8 | 478 | 13.3 |
| BODE MIDDLE | 7-8 | 474 | 13.5 |
| SPRING GARDEN MIDDLE | 6-8 | 443 | 14.8 |
| PARKWAY ELEM. | K-6 | 429 | 14.8 |
| SKAITH ELEM. | PK-6 | 424 | 15.7 |
| COLEMAN ELEM. | K-6 | 394 | 13.1 |
| EDISON ELEM. | PK-6 | 388 | 13.4 |
Towns near St. Joseph
- Savannah, MO12.4 mi · 5,069 people · home $161,500
- Atchison, KS21.6 mi · 10,885 people · home $129,700
- Platte City, MO27.8 mi · 4,784 people · home $210,800
- Smithville, MO28.4 mi · 10,406 people · home $290,600
St. Joseph questions
Is St. Joseph, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Joseph scores better for retirees than 15% of Missouri towns and quieter than 16%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in St. Joseph?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Joseph is valued at $154,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,956, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $898 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Joseph?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19.6 inches of snow.
Does St. Joseph get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Joseph since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 10, 1965. 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)