The Town Files

Buchanan County, Missouri

83,568 people. The median home is worth $166,300 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $62,158.

Towns in Buchanan County

Towns in Buchanan County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
St. Joseph72,473$154,200$57,95638.1

People and housing

Buchanan CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$166,300$153,900
Median rent$902$855
Median household income$62,158$56,368
Median age38.938.6
Bachelor's degree or higher23.9%18.9%
Below the poverty line16.0%14.6%

Jobs and pay

45,842 jobs in 2024, average pay $58,558 a year.

Largest industries in Buchanan CountyManufacturing11,858 jobs · $72,900Health care & social assistan…7,723 jobs · $65,056Retail5,280 jobs · $33,437Hotels & restaurants3,658 jobs · $22,474Construction2,157 jobs · $90,775Transportation & warehousing1,746 jobs · $56,433
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Buchanan County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 2.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 538 storm events in Buchanan County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Buchanan County by type since 1996Hail129Heat14Flood99Drought18Tornado12Blizzard6High Wind7Heavy Snow9Flash Flood22Winter Storm18
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Buchanan County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2021Severe StormDR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3482: Covid-19
July 9, 2019Severe StormDR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
May 20, 2019FloodDR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
August 7, 2015Severe StormDR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).