The Town FilesKirksville, Missouri
City in Adair County · population 17,530 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,900
- Household income
- $50,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 24.8
Kirksville is a city of 17,530 people in Adair County, Missouri. The median home is worth $153,900, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 98% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Missouri towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Missouri towns.
How Kirksville 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 Kirksville is worth $153,900, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $50,071, which is more affordable than 31% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 48.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kirksville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $775 | $855 |
| Median household income | $50,071 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Kirksville
| People | Kirksville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Kirksville
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirksville since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 13, 2009 about 2.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 10, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 18, 1971.
Severe weather in Adair County since 1996
Adair County has been included in 26 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 |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: 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 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adair County
Adair County had 9,656 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,054 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Kirksville itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Kirksville
5 public schools with 2,534 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIRKSVILLE SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 763 | 17.0 |
| KIRKSVILLE PRIMARY | PK-2 | 727 | 11.2 |
| WILLIAM MATTHEW MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 548 | 13.0 |
| RAY MILLER ELEM. | 3-5 | 496 | 11.0 |
| KIRKSVILLE AREA TECH. CTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
Kirksville questions
Is Kirksville, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kirksville scores better for retirees than 28% of Missouri towns and quieter than 10%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.8).
How much does a house cost in Kirksville?
The median owner-occupied home in Kirksville is valued at $153,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,071, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Kirksville?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 19.0 inches of snow.
Does Kirksville get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kirksville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 13, 2009. 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)