The Town FilesLexington, Missouri
City in Lafayette County · population 4,652 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,300
- Household income
- $56,905
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 37.2
Lexington is a city of 4,652 people in Lafayette County, Missouri. The median home is worth $161,300, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 79% of Missouri towns, more upscale than 70% of Missouri towns.
How Lexington 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 Lexington is worth $161,300, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $56,905, which is more affordable than 47% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $801 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lexington | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $801 | $855 |
| Median household income | $56,905 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Lexington
| People | Lexington | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.5% | 88.7% |
Weather in Lexington
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.2°F. About 43.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lexington since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1977 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 10, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 30, 2023.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette 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 |
| August 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4012: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 8,809 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,138 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lexington itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Lexington
4 public schools with 938 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE BELL ELEM. | PK-4 | 365 | 12.2 |
| LEXINGTON HIGH | 9-12 | 320 | 15.2 |
| LEXINGTON MIDDLE | 5-8 | 253 | 13.3 |
| LEX LA-RAY TECHNICAL CTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lexington
- Richmond, MO8.6 mi · 6,013 people · home $142,600
- Higginsville, MO11.0 mi · 4,817 people · home $166,100
- Odessa, MO13.5 mi · 5,593 people · home $238,200
- Buckner, MO17.9 mi · 2,945 people · home $197,600
- Oak Grove, MO18.4 mi · 8,157 people · home $215,500
- Grain Valley, MO21.8 mi · 15,627 people · home $283,800
- Excelsior Springs, MO22.8 mi · 10,553 people · home $186,800
- Carrollton, MO23.7 mi · 3,514 people · home $110,200
Lexington questions
Is Lexington, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lexington scores better for retirees than 65% of Missouri towns and quieter than 61%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Lexington?
The median owner-occupied home in Lexington is valued at $161,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,905, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $801 a month.
What is the weather like in Lexington?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 20.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does Lexington get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lexington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1977. 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)