The Town FilesMurphy, Missouri
Community in Jefferson County · population 8,425 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,700
- Household income
- $72,233
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.2
Murphy is a community of 8,425 people in Jefferson County, Missouri. The median home is worth $184,700, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 72% of Missouri towns.
How Murphy 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 Murphy is worth $184,700, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $72,233, which is more affordable than 58% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,056 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Murphy | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,056 | $855 |
| Median household income | $72,233 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Murphy
| People | Murphy | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Murphy
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 21.9°F. About 42.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murphy since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 10, 1959 about 4.8 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 192 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 219 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 49,458 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,615 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Murphy itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Murphy
- Fenton, MO3.2 mi · 3,989 people · home $374,500
- High Ridge, MO3.4 mi · 4,242 people · home $172,200
- Valley Park, MO4.0 mi · 6,885 people · home $251,000
- Sunset Hills, MO4.9 mi · 9,198 people · home $523,800
- Byrnes Mill, MO6.0 mi · 3,173 people · home $306,200
- Manchester, MO6.4 mi · 18,333 people · home $323,100
- Sappington, MO6.5 mi · 7,995 people · home $297,600
- Kirkwood, MO7.0 mi · 29,461 people · home $451,400
Murphy questions
Is Murphy, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Murphy scores better for retirees than 9% of Missouri towns and quieter than 37%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Murphy?
The median owner-occupied home in Murphy is valued at $184,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,233, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,056 a month.
What is the weather like in Murphy?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 21.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 10.2 inches of snow.
Does Murphy get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murphy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 10, 1959. 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)