The Town FilesCarthage, Missouri
City in Jasper County · population 15,522 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,800
- Household income
- $51,328
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 32.2
Carthage is a city of 15,522 people in Jasper County, Missouri. The median home is worth $146,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Missouri towns, hipper than 77% of Missouri towns.
How Carthage 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 Carthage is worth $146,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $51,328, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $975 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carthage | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $975 | $855 |
| Median household income | $51,328 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Carthage
| People | Carthage | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 32.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Carthage
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 22, 2011 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 161. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 163 deaths and 1,229 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 26, 2006.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: 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 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 59,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,009 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Carthage itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Carthage
11 public schools with 5,062 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARTHAGE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,634 | 19.2 |
| CARTHAGE JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 732 | 12.8 |
| CARTHAGE INTERMEDIATE CENTER | 4-5 | 725 | 13.7 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEM. | K-3 | 411 | 11.7 |
| CARTHAGE 6TH GRADE CENTER | 6-6 | 393 | 12.3 |
| COLUMBIAN ELEM. | K-3 | 378 | 11.8 |
| STEADLEY ELEM. | K-3 | 350 | 15.2 |
| MARK TWAIN ELEM. | K-3 | 169 | 12.1 |
| PLEASANT VALLEY ELEM. | PK-3 | 158 | 17.6 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PAT CENTER | PK-PK | 112 | 12.4 |
| CARTHAGE TECHNICAL CTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Carthage
- Webb City, MO8.0 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Oronogo, MO8.3 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
- Joplin, MO11.0 mi · 51,762 people · home $168,300
- Carl Junction, MO12.1 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Galena, KS17.9 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
- Neosho, MO21.1 mi · 12,590 people · home $163,400
- Lamar, MO24.1 mi · 4,266 people · home $117,200
- Baxter Springs, KS24.3 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
Carthage questions
Is Carthage, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carthage scores better for retirees than 43% of Missouri towns and quieter than 16%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.2).
How much does a house cost in Carthage?
The median owner-occupied home in Carthage is valued at $146,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,328, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $975 a month.
What is the weather like in Carthage?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 7.4 inches of snow.
Does Carthage get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 22, 2011. 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)