The Town FilesWillow Springs, Missouri
City in Howell County · population 2,164 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,400
- Household income
- $41,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 33.3
Willow Springs is a city of 2,164 people in Howell County, Missouri. The median home is worth $135,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better transit than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Willow Springs 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 Willow Springs is worth $135,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $41,406, which is more affordable than 25% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $634 a month. 51.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willow Springs | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $634 | $855 |
| Median household income | $41,406 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Willow Springs
| People | Willow Springs | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Willow Springs
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Springs since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 26, 2024 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2011.
Severe weather in Howell County since 1996
Howell County has been included in 25 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 Howell County
Howell County had 15,361 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Willow Springs itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Willow Springs
3 public schools with 1,240 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLOW SPRINGS ELEM. | PK-4 | 478 | 11.1 |
| WILLOW SPRINGS HIGH | 9-12 | 401 | 11.5 |
| WILLOW SPRINGS MIDDLE | 5-8 | 361 | 10.3 |
Towns near Willow Springs
- Cabool, MO12.4 mi · 1,946 people · home $130,000
- Mountain View, MO14.3 mi · 2,533 people · home $123,500
- West Plains, MO18.0 mi · 12,184 people · home $169,900
- Mountain Grove, MO19.7 mi · 4,313 people · home $87,200
- Houston, MO23.1 mi · 2,079 people · home $114,400
- Birch Tree, MO25.9 mi · 541 people · home $75,000
- Norwood, MO26.6 mi · 578 people · home $133,200
Willow Springs questions
Is Willow Springs, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willow Springs scores better for retirees than 60% of Missouri towns and quieter than 59%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Willow Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Willow Springs is valued at $135,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,406, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $634 a month.
What is the weather like in Willow Springs?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6.4 inches of snow.
Does Willow Springs get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willow Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 26, 2024. 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)