The Town FilesDexter, Missouri
City in Stoddard County · population 7,927 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,200
- Household income
- $51,701
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.5
Dexter is a city of 7,927 people in Stoddard County, Missouri. The median home is worth $137,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 80% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 73% of Missouri towns.
How Dexter 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 Dexter is worth $137,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $51,701, which is more affordable than 54% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $765 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dexter | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $765 | $855 |
| Median household income | $51,701 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Dexter
| People | Dexter | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Dexter
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dexter since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 22, 1981 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Stoddard County since 1996
Stoddard County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Stoddard County
Stoddard County had 9,951 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,866 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Dexter itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Dexter
6 public schools with 2,092 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEXTER HIGH | 9-12 | 572 | 15.1 |
| SOUTHWEST ELEM. | K-2 | 474 | 12.8 |
| T. S. HILL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 472 | 15.7 |
| CENTRAL ELEM. | 3-5 | 461 | 12.5 |
| SOUTHWEST ELEMENTARY PRESCHOOL | PK-PK | 97 | 13.9 |
| CROWLEY RIDGE SCHOOL | K-12 | 16 | 8.0 |
Towns near Dexter
- Malden, MO13.4 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Sikeston, MO21.7 mi · 16,291 people · home $168,800
- Poplar Bluff, MO25.0 mi · 16,225 people · home $119,800
- New Madrid, MO26.9 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Portageville, MO29.1 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
Dexter questions
Is Dexter, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dexter scores better for retirees than 19% of Missouri towns and quieter than 32%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Dexter?
The median owner-occupied home in Dexter is valued at $137,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,701, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $765 a month.
What is the weather like in Dexter?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Dexter get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dexter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 22, 1981. 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)