The Town FilesLamar, Missouri
City in Barton County · population 4,266 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,200
- Household income
- $36,705
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.3
Lamar is a city of 4,266 people in Barton County, Missouri. The median home is worth $117,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Missouri towns, hipper than 89% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Missouri towns.
How Lamar 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 Lamar is worth $117,200, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $36,705, which is more affordable than 28% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 51.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lamar | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $832 | $855 |
| Median household income | $36,705 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lamar
| People | Lamar | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Lamar
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 22.4°F. About 48.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 2003 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Barton County since 1996
Barton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barton County
Barton County had 3,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,856 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Lamar itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Lamar
5 public schools with 1,149 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAMAR HIGH | 9-12 | 374 | 13.9 |
| EAST ELEM. | PK-2 | 273 | 13.0 |
| LAMAR MIDDLE | 6-8 | 262 | 11.4 |
| LAMAR ELEM. | 3-5 | 240 | 12.6 |
| LAMAR CAREERTECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lamar
- Oronogo, MO23.2 mi · 2,558 people · home $188,500
- Frontenac, KS23.3 mi · 3,382 people · home $165,600
- Pittsburg, KS23.7 mi · 20,646 people · home $123,200
- Carthage, MO24.1 mi · 15,522 people · home $146,800
- Nevada, MO24.6 mi · 8,212 people · home $122,700
- Webb City, MO26.5 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Carl Junction, MO27.0 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- El Dorado Springs, MO29.6 mi · 3,493 people · home $103,900
Lamar questions
Is Lamar, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lamar scores better for retirees than 59% of Missouri towns and quieter than 47%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Lamar?
The median owner-occupied home in Lamar is valued at $117,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,705, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in Lamar?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 22.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.3 inches of snow.
Does Lamar get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)