The Town FilesBelton, Missouri
City in Cass County · population 23,953 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,200
- Household income
- $69,226
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 36.8
Belton is a city of 23,953 people in Cass County, Missouri. The median home is worth $203,200, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Belton 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 Belton is worth $203,200, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $69,226, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,290 a month. 59.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,290 | $855 |
| Median household income | $69,226 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Belton
| People | Belton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Belton
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 20, 1957 about 5.6 miles from the town center and killed 37. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 41 deaths and 197 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 8, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 148 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 17, 2023.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 21 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 |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 3, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3317: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 17, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1934: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 30,655 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,331 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Belton itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Belton
8 public schools with 4,205 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BELTON HIGH | 9-12 | 1,272 | 14.5 |
| BELTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 620 | 13.2 |
| Wilckens STEAM Acad @Hillcrest | K-6 | 482 | 16.1 |
| MILL CREEK UPPER ELEM. | 5-6 | 463 | 16.5 |
| CAMBRIDGE ELEM. | K-4 | 439 | 16.3 |
| GLADDEN ELEM. | K-4 | 368 | 15.3 |
| KENTUCKY TRAIL ELEM. | K-4 | 337 | 13.5 |
| GRACE EARLY CHILD. ED. CTR. | PK-PK | 224 | 14.9 |
Towns near Belton
- Raymore, MO4.0 mi · 22,941 people · home $339,100
- Grandview, MO4.3 mi · 26,209 people · home $188,500
- Peculiar, MO6.9 mi · 5,621 people · home $283,900
- Leawood, KS8.0 mi · 33,902 people · home $658,800
- Overland Park, KS9.9 mi · 197,238 people · home $413,600
- Lee's Summit, MO10.5 mi · 101,108 people · home $340,900
- Greenwood, MO10.7 mi · 6,021 people · home $286,100
- Raytown, MO12.7 mi · 30,012 people · home $182,900
Belton questions
Is Belton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belton scores better for retirees than 26% of Missouri towns and quieter than 29%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Belton?
The median owner-occupied home in Belton is valued at $203,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,226, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,290 a month.
What is the weather like in Belton?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does Belton get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 20, 1957. 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)