The Town FilesGladstone, Missouri
City in Clay County · population 27,063 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,500
- Household income
- $79,271
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 41.9
Gladstone is a city of 27,063 people in Clay County, Missouri. The median home is worth $231,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more vibrant than 92% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 85% of Missouri towns.
How Gladstone 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 Gladstone is worth $231,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $79,271, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,088 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gladstone | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,088 | $855 |
| Median household income | $79,271 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gladstone
| People | Gladstone | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Gladstone
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gladstone since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 2003 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 378 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 13, 1965.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 30, 2011 | Flood | EM-3325: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 111,855 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,093 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Gladstone itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Gladstone
7 public schools with 2,822 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTIOCH MIDDLE | 7-8 | 869 | 14.5 |
| CHAPEL HILL ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 622 | 16.4 |
| MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 506 | 14.1 |
| LINDEN WEST ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 497 | 15.5 |
| OAKWOOD MANOR ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 221 | 10.5 |
| EARLY EDUCATION CENTER | PK-PK | 107 | 2.2 |
| S.T.A.R. DAY TREATMENT CTR. | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Gladstone
- Pleasant Valley, MO4.2 mi · 2,743 people · home $202,000
- Riverside, MO4.8 mi · 4,013 people · home $411,300
- North Kansas City, MO5.1 mi · 4,467 people · home $197,500
- Kansas City, MO6.1 mi · 508,090 people · home $242,900
- Liberty, MO7.7 mi · 30,167 people · home $283,300
- Parkville, MO7.8 mi · 7,117 people · home $573,500
- Sugar Creek, MO9.5 mi · 3,271 people · home $136,600
- Kansas City, KS11.6 mi · 156,607 people · home $167,400
Gladstone questions
Is Gladstone, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gladstone scores better for retirees than 53% of Missouri towns and quieter than 19%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Gladstone?
The median owner-occupied home in Gladstone is valued at $231,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,271, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,088 a month.
What is the weather like in Gladstone?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 11.0 inches of snow.
Does Gladstone get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gladstone since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 2003. 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)