The Town FilesOronogo, Missouri
City in Jasper County · population 2,558 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,500
- Household income
- $91,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 32.8
Oronogo is a city of 2,558 people in Jasper County, Missouri. The median home is worth $188,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for families than 94% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 88% of Missouri towns, better for cycling than 83% of Missouri towns.
- #1 in The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Missouri
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Missouri
- #14 in 25 Small Towns in Missouri With the Mildest Winters
- #15 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Missouri
- #33 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in America
- #33 in The 50 Best Affordable Places for Remote Workers in America
How Oronogo 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 Oronogo is worth $188,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $91,563, which is more affordable than 80% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,299 a month. 90.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oronogo | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,299 | $855 |
| Median household income | $91,563 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 90.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Oronogo
| People | Oronogo | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 34.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Oronogo
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oronogo since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 22, 2011 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 161. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 167 deaths and 1,264 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 152 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 26, 2006.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 59,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,009 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Oronogo itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Oronogo
- Webb City, MO3.5 mi · 13,031 people · home $169,100
- Carl Junction, MO4.7 mi · 8,143 people · home $218,300
- Joplin, MO8.3 mi · 51,762 people · home $168,300
- Carthage, MO8.3 mi · 15,522 people · home $146,800
- Galena, KS12.4 mi · 2,761 people · home $78,500
- Baxter Springs, KS19.1 mi · 3,888 people · home $92,900
- Pittsburg, KS20.0 mi · 20,646 people · home $123,200
- Columbus, KS21.0 mi · 2,929 people · home $94,100
Oronogo questions
Is Oronogo, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oronogo scores better for retirees than 46% of Missouri towns and quieter than 55%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Oronogo?
The median owner-occupied home in Oronogo is valued at $188,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,563, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,299 a month.
What is the weather like in Oronogo?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8.0 inches of snow.
Does Oronogo get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oronogo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 22, 2011. 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)