The Town FilesMacon, Missouri
City in Macon County · population 5,457 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,800
- Household income
- $61,642
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 46.1
Macon is a city of 5,457 people in Macon County, Missouri. The median home is worth $151,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 87% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 85% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 78% of Missouri towns.
How Macon 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 Macon is worth $151,800, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $61,642, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $680 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Macon | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $680 | $855 |
| Median household income | $61,642 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Macon
| People | Macon | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Macon
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Macon since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 23, 1975 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 23, 1975.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: 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 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 4,831 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,944 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Macon itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Macon
5 public schools with 1,182 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MACON ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 491 | 11.4 |
| MACON SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 418 | 15.5 |
| MACON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 273 | 12.4 |
| FAMILY LITERACY CENTER | K-12 | — | — |
| MACON AREA CTE CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Macon
- Moberly, MO22.5 mi · 13,783 people · home $153,100
Macon questions
Is Macon, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Macon scores better for retirees than 70% of Missouri towns and quieter than 57%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Macon?
The median owner-occupied home in Macon is valued at $151,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,642, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $680 a month.
What is the weather like in Macon?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 15.5 inches of snow.
Does Macon get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Macon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 23, 1975. 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)