The Town FilesKennett, Missouri
City in Dunklin County · population 10,515 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,000
- Household income
- $52,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.4
Kennett is a city of 10,515 people in Dunklin County, Missouri. The median home is worth $112,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Missouri towns.
How Kennett 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 Kennett is worth $112,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $52,500, which is more affordable than 80% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $651 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kennett | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $651 | $855 |
| Median household income | $52,500 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kennett
| People | Kennett | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Kennett
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 55.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kennett since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 2, 2006 about 5.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 19, 1959.
Severe weather in Dunklin County since 1996
Dunklin County has been included in 22 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 |
| January 10, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4636: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Dunklin County
Dunklin County had 9,137 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,543 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Kennett itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Kennett
7 public schools with 1,858 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETT HIGH | 9-12 | 506 | 15.8 |
| H. BYRON MASTERSON ELEM. | K-2 | 436 | 12.8 |
| KENNETT MIDDLE | 6-8 | 418 | 13.9 |
| SOUTH ELEM. | 3-5 | 403 | 12.6 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | PK-PK | 95 | 23.8 |
| DIAGNOSTIC CTR. | PK-12 | — | — |
| KENNETT CAREER TECH. CTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Kennett
- Piggott, AR13.2 mi · 3,622 people · home $115,500
- Gosnell, AR19.5 mi · 2,910 people · home $98,700
- Caruthersville, MO21.6 mi · 5,562 people · home $107,700
- Blytheville, AR22.6 mi · 13,406 people · home $119,000
- Portageville, MO23.4 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- Malden, MO25.1 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Manila, AR25.5 mi · 3,682 people · home $172,000
- Paragould, AR28.9 mi · 29,537 people · home $181,500
Kennett questions
Is Kennett, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kennett scores better for retirees than 25% of Missouri towns and quieter than 33%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Kennett?
The median owner-occupied home in Kennett is valued at $112,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,500, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $651 a month.
What is the weather like in Kennett?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.3 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Kennett get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kennett since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 2, 2006. 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)