The Town FilesTarkio, Missouri
City in Atchison County · population 1,506 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,800
- Household income
- $56,927
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 51.0
Tarkio is a city of 1,506 people in Atchison County, Missouri. The median home is worth $87,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Missouri towns, quieter than 91% of Missouri towns, better transit than 86% of Missouri towns.
How Tarkio 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 Tarkio is worth $87,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $56,927, which is more affordable than 96% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $660 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tarkio | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $660 | $855 |
| Median household income | $56,927 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Tarkio
| People | Tarkio | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Tarkio
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tarkio since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 5, 1954 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 22, 1996.
Severe weather in Atchison County since 1996
Atchison County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| May 20, 2019 | Flood | DR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Atchison County
Atchison County had 1,616 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,066 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Tarkio itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Tarkio
2 public schools with 322 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TARKIO JH AND HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 162 | 9.0 |
| TARKIO ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 160 | 8.0 |
Towns near Tarkio
- Fairfax, MO7.2 mi · 648 people · home $90,500
- Rock Port, MO8.2 mi · 1,278 people · home $115,600
- Burlington Junction, MO16.7 mi · 521 people · home $90,600
- Hamburg, IA18.3 mi · 890 people · home $106,300
- Peru, NE18.5 mi · 648 people · home $96,600
- Shenandoah, IA21.8 mi · 4,925 people · home $116,700
- Mound City, MO22.6 mi · 1,004 people · home $146,300
- Auburn, NE24.5 mi · 3,470 people · home $98,800
Tarkio questions
Is Tarkio, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tarkio scores better for retirees than 99% of Missouri towns and quieter than 91%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in Tarkio?
The median owner-occupied home in Tarkio is valued at $87,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,927, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $660 a month.
What is the weather like in Tarkio?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 25.8 inches of snow.
Does Tarkio get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tarkio since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 5, 1954. 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)