The Town FilesFulton, Missouri
City in Callaway County · population 12,600 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,900
- Household income
- $51,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 34.9
Fulton is a city of 12,600 people in Callaway County, Missouri. The median home is worth $155,900, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 88% of Missouri towns.
How Fulton 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 Fulton is worth $155,900, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $51,429, which is more affordable than 36% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 48.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fulton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $836 | $855 |
| Median household income | $51,429 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fulton
| People | Fulton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Fulton
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.9 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fulton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 20, 2025 about 10.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 8, 1982.
Severe weather in Callaway County since 1996
Callaway County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: 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 |
Jobs and pay in Callaway County
Callaway County had 14,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,776 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Fulton itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Fulton
13 public schools with 2,359 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FULTON SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 670 | 15.2 |
| FULTON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 528 | 13.9 |
| MCINTIRE ELEM. | K-5 | 369 | 13.2 |
| BUSH ELEM. | K-5 | 363 | 12.5 |
| BARTLEY ELEM. | K-5 | 252 | 13.3 |
| FULTON EARLY CHILDHOOD CNTR | PK-PK | 95 | 10.6 |
| FULTON TREATMENT CTR. | 6-12 | 31 | 7.8 |
| STARK ELEM. | K-5 | 22 | 4.4 |
| WHEELER HIGH | 9-12 | 16 | 2.3 |
| WHEELER MIDDLE | 6-8 | 13 | 4.3 |
| FULTON RECEPTION AND DIAG CTR | 7-12 | — | — |
| ROSA PARKS CENTER | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Fulton
- Ashland, MO15.8 mi · 4,747 people · home $258,500
- Holts Summit, MO16.8 mi · 4,458 people · home $191,900
- Columbia, MO21.2 mi · 126,254 people · home $284,600
- Mexico, MO21.6 mi · 11,469 people · home $139,800
- Jefferson City, MO23.3 mi · 43,228 people · home $218,700
- Montgomery City, MO25.5 mi · 2,811 people · home $161,100
- Centralia, MO26.5 mi · 4,541 people · home $174,300
Fulton questions
Is Fulton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fulton scores better for retirees than 46% of Missouri towns and quieter than 23%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Fulton?
The median owner-occupied home in Fulton is valued at $155,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,429, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Fulton?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.9 inches of snow.
Does Fulton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fulton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 20, 2025. 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)