The Town FilesLicking, Missouri
City in Texas County · population 2,851 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,900
- Household income
- $35,652
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.9
Licking is a city of 2,851 people in Texas County, Missouri. The median home is worth $116,900, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns, quieter than 78% of Missouri towns.
How Licking 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 Licking is worth $116,900, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $35,652, which is more affordable than 25% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $657 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Licking | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $657 | $855 |
| Median household income | $35,652 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Licking
| People | Licking | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Licking
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Licking since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 11, 1979 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 21, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Texas County since 1996
Texas County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: 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 |
Jobs and pay in Texas County
Texas County had 5,867 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,291 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Licking itself the ACS puts it at 20.4%.
Public schools in Licking
3 public schools with 809 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LICKING ELEM. | PK-6 | 408 | 13.2 |
| LICKING HIGH | 7-12 | 401 | 13.8 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL CORRECTIONAL CTR | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Licking
- Salem, MO20.3 mi · 4,608 people · home $115,000
- Fort Leonard Wood, MO22.9 mi · 15,959 people · home —
- St. Robert, MO27.5 mi · 5,192 people · home $225,300
- Waynesville, MO29.5 mi · 5,406 people · home $200,000
Licking questions
Is Licking, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Licking scores better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns and quieter than 78%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Licking?
The median owner-occupied home in Licking is valued at $116,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,652, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $657 a month.
What is the weather like in Licking?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 11.0 inches of snow.
Does Licking get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Licking since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 11, 1979. 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)