The Town FilesWaynesville, Missouri
City in Pulaski County · population 5,406 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,000
- Household income
- $56,836
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 32.4
Waynesville is a city of 5,406 people in Pulaski County, Missouri. The median home is worth $200,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Missouri towns, more upscale than 85% of Missouri towns.
How Waynesville 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 Waynesville is worth $200,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,836, which is more affordable than 19% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,152 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waynesville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,152 | $855 |
| Median household income | $56,836 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Waynesville
| People | Waynesville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 29.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Waynesville
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 22.4°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waynesville since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 31, 2010 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 7, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 84 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 13,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,536 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Waynesville itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Waynesville
6 public schools with 3,988 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNESVILLE SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 1,693 | 18.6 |
| WAYNESVILLE EAST ELEM. | K-5 | 909 | 15.4 |
| WAYNESVILLE MIDDLE | 7-8 | 903 | 14.6 |
| 6TH GRADE CENTER | 6-6 | 441 | 18.4 |
| Parker Educational Center | PK-PK | 42 | 21.0 |
| WAYNESVILLE CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Waynesville
- St. Robert, MO3.7 mi · 5,192 people · home $225,300
- Fort Leonard Wood, MO6.6 mi · 15,959 people · home —
- Lebanon, MO26.1 mi · 15,013 people · home $158,800
- Rolla, MO26.5 mi · 19,943 people · home $187,000
- Licking, MO29.5 mi · 2,851 people · home $116,900
Waynesville questions
Is Waynesville, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waynesville scores better for retirees than 69% of Missouri towns and quieter than 28%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.4).
How much does a house cost in Waynesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Waynesville is valued at $200,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,836, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,152 a month.
What is the weather like in Waynesville?
July highs average 89.1°F and January lows 22.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Waynesville get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waynesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 31, 2010. 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)