The Town FilesWellington, Missouri
City in Lafayette County · population 738 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,200
- Household income
- $67,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 47.5
Wellington is a city of 738 people in Lafayette County, Missouri. The median home is worth $144,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks quieter than 90% of Missouri towns.
How Wellington 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 Wellington is worth $144,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $67,045, which is more affordable than 77% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,004 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wellington | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,004 | $855 |
| Median household income | $67,045 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wellington
| People | Wellington | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 14.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 38.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Wellington
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 14.9°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wellington since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 24, 1967 about 7.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4012: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 8,809 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,138 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Wellington itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Wellington
2 public schools with 380 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLINGTON-NAPOLEON HIGH | 6-12 | 203 | 11.3 |
| WELLINGTON-NAPOLEON ELEM. | PK-5 | 177 | 11.8 |
Towns near Wellington
- Lexington, MO6.8 mi · 4,652 people · home $161,300
- Orrick, MO9.0 mi · 753 people · home $139,600
- Richmond, MO9.2 mi · 6,013 people · home $142,600
- Odessa, MO9.9 mi · 5,593 people · home $238,200
- Buckner, MO11.3 mi · 2,945 people · home $197,600
- Hardin, MO12.0 mi · 571 people · home $106,300
- Oak Grove, MO12.1 mi · 8,157 people · home $215,500
- Higginsville, MO14.9 mi · 4,817 people · home $166,100
Wellington questions
Is Wellington, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wellington scores better for retirees than 48% of Missouri towns and quieter than 90%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.5).
How much does a house cost in Wellington?
The median owner-occupied home in Wellington is valued at $144,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,045, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,004 a month.
What is the weather like in Wellington?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 14.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does Wellington get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wellington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 24, 1967. 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)