The Town FilesJefferson City, Missouri
City in Cole County · population 43,228 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $218,700
- Household income
- $66,371
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.9
Jefferson City is a city of 43,228 people in Cole County, Missouri. The median home is worth $218,700, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 91% of Missouri towns, hipper than 90% of Missouri towns, better transit than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City is worth $218,700, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $66,371, which is more affordable than 25% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $802 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $802 | $855 |
| Median household income | $66,371 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson City
| People | Jefferson City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Jefferson City
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 21.0°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.9 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 22, 2019 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 27, 2020.
Severe weather in Cole County since 1996
Cole County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| January 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cole County
Cole County had 54,302 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,952 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Jefferson City itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Jefferson City
22 public schools with 9,152 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON CITY HIGH | 9-12 | 1,373 | 13.7 |
| CAPITAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,317 | 13.7 |
| LEWIS AND CLARK MIDDLE | 6-8 | 962 | 11.9 |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 889 | 11.3 |
| PIONEER TRAIL ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 448 | 12.8 |
| CLARENCE LAWSON ELEM. | K-5 | 442 | 11.9 |
| BLAIR OAKS HIGH | 9-12 | 438 | 16.2 |
| BELAIR ELEM. | K-5 | 362 | 12.9 |
| WEST ELEM. | K-5 | 339 | 13.6 |
| CEDAR HILL ELEM. | K-5 | 326 | 10.9 |
| SOUTH ELEM. | K-5 | 321 | 11.5 |
| EAST ELEM. | K-5 | 298 | 10.3 |
Towns near Jefferson City
- Holts Summit, MO6.5 mi · 4,458 people · home $191,900
- Ashland, MO17.3 mi · 4,747 people · home $258,500
- California, MO21.6 mi · 4,498 people · home $152,700
- Fulton, MO23.3 mi · 12,600 people · home $155,900
- Eldon, MO26.4 mi · 4,416 people · home $157,400
- Columbia, MO27.5 mi · 126,254 people · home $284,600
Jefferson City questions
Is Jefferson City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson City scores better for retirees than 60% of Missouri towns and quieter than 30%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson City?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson City is valued at $218,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,371, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $802 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson City?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 21.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8.9 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson City get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2019. 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)