The Town FilesVan Buren, Missouri
Town in Carter County · population 747 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,400
- Household income
- $20,560
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.2
Van Buren is a town of 747 people in Carter County, Missouri. The median home is worth $103,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 92% of Missouri towns.
How Van Buren 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 Van Buren is worth $103,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $20,560, which is more affordable than 2% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $313 a month. 42.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Buren | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $313 | $855 |
| Median household income | $20,560 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 42.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.5% | — |
Who lives in Van Buren
| People | Van Buren | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 44.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Van Buren
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 48.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 24, 2002 about 1.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 80 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 5, 1996.
Severe weather in Carter County since 1996
Carter County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Carter County
Carter County had 1,472 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,121 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Van Buren itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Public schools in Van Buren
2 public schools with 513 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAN BUREN ELEM. | PK-6 | 287 | 10.6 |
| VAN BUREN HIGH | 7-12 | 226 | 12.6 |
Towns near Van Buren
- Ellington, MO15.5 mi · 790 people · home $71,300
- Winona, MO17.7 mi · 950 people · home $95,500
- Piedmont, MO19.6 mi · 1,897 people · home $97,700
- Eminence, MO21.6 mi · 515 people · home $120,700
- Birch Tree, MO26.8 mi · 541 people · home $75,000
- Doniphan, MO28.9 mi · 1,781 people · home $110,400
Van Buren questions
Is Van Buren, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Buren scores better for retirees than 92% of Missouri towns and quieter than 68%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Van Buren?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Buren is valued at $103,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $20,560, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $313 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Buren?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.0 inches of snow.
Does Van Buren get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 24, 2002. 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)