The Town FilesAurora, Missouri
City in Lawrence County · population 7,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,400
- Household income
- $49,848
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 43.2
Aurora is a city of 7,219 people in Lawrence County, Missouri. The median home is worth $124,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Missouri towns.
How Aurora 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 Aurora is worth $124,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $49,848, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $823 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aurora | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $823 | $855 |
| Median household income | $49,848 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Aurora
| People | Aurora | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Aurora
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 45.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 2006 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on January 7, 2008.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4876: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 8,920 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,246 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Aurora itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Aurora
4 public schools with 1,869 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AURORA HIGH | 9-12 | 571 | 15.9 |
| ROBINSON SCHOOL | 3-6 | 538 | 13.5 |
| PATE EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | PK-2 | 469 | 11.7 |
| AURORA JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 291 | 11.6 |
Towns near Aurora
- Mount Vernon, MO11.0 mi · 4,526 people · home $186,800
- Monett, MO11.9 mi · 9,576 people · home $167,700
- Clever, MO14.4 mi · 2,918 people · home $200,000
- Cassville, MO21.6 mi · 3,190 people · home $155,300
- Republic, MO21.8 mi · 18,750 people · home $211,500
- Battlefield, MO22.0 mi · 5,990 people · home $255,600
- Nixa, MO23.9 mi · 23,257 people · home $258,700
- Willard, MO28.0 mi · 6,344 people · home $212,900
Aurora questions
Is Aurora, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aurora scores better for retirees than 20% of Missouri towns and quieter than 33%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Aurora?
The median owner-occupied home in Aurora is valued at $124,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,848, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $823 a month.
What is the weather like in Aurora?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 9.1 inches of snow.
Does Aurora get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 2006. 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)