The Town FilesBonne Terre, Missouri
City in St. Francois County · population 6,903 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,000
- Household income
- $46,179
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.0
Bonne Terre is a city of 6,903 people in St. Francois County, Missouri. The median home is worth $153,000, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Missouri towns, hipper than 86% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 81% of Missouri towns.
How Bonne Terre 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 Bonne Terre is worth $153,000, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $46,179, which is more affordable than 25% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $641 a month. 59.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bonne Terre | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $641 | $855 |
| Median household income | $46,179 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Bonne Terre
| People | Bonne Terre | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.3% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Bonne Terre
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bonne Terre since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 21, 1957 about 5.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 54 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 8, 2015.
Severe weather in St. Francois County since 1996
St. Francois County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Francois County
St. Francois County had 23,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,743 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bonne Terre itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Bonne Terre
5 public schools with 1,614 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH CO. SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 879 | 17.9 |
| NORTH COUNTY PRIMARY | PK-2 | 735 | 12.0 |
| UNITEC CAREER CTR. | 10-12 | — | — |
| EAST RECEP/DIAG CORR CENT/DIAG | 7-12 | — | — |
| EAST RECEP/DIAG CORR CENT/ACAD | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Bonne Terre
- Desloge, MO3.4 mi · 4,823 people · home $127,500
- Park Hills, MO7.6 mi · 8,587 people · home $131,300
- Farmington, MO11.5 mi · 18,217 people · home $196,500
- Potosi, MO12.7 mi · 2,538 people · home $110,100
- De Soto, MO15.2 mi · 6,449 people · home $160,700
- Hillsboro, MO21.6 mi · 3,473 people · home $221,200
- Festus, MO21.8 mi · 12,706 people · home $223,600
- Crystal City, MO22.5 mi · 4,740 people · home $185,800
Bonne Terre questions
Is Bonne Terre, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bonne Terre scores better for retirees than 34% of Missouri towns and quieter than 53%. 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Bonne Terre?
The median owner-occupied home in Bonne Terre is valued at $153,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,179, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $641 a month.
What is the weather like in Bonne Terre?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 9.4 inches of snow.
Does Bonne Terre get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bonne Terre since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 21, 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)