The Town FilesPalmyra, Missouri
City in Marion County · population 3,613 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,200
- Household income
- $69,922
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.8
Palmyra is a city of 3,613 people in Marion County, Missouri. The median home is worth $184,200, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 86% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 78% of Missouri towns.
How Palmyra 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 Palmyra is worth $184,200, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $69,922, which is more affordable than 58% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmyra | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $843 | $855 |
| Median household income | $69,922 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palmyra
| People | Palmyra | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Palmyra
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmyra since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 10, 2003 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 14, 2002.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 12,904 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,856 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Palmyra itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Palmyra
3 public schools with 1,155 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PALMYRA ELEM. | PK-4 | 451 | 12.2 |
| PALMYRA HIGH | 9-12 | 360 | 12.9 |
| PALMYRA MIDDLE | 5-8 | 344 | 13.2 |
Towns near Palmyra
- Hannibal, MO9.3 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
- Quincy, IL12.2 mi · 39,463 people · home $153,200
- Monroe City, MO14.8 mi · 2,652 people · home $159,300
- Canton, MO22.9 mi · 2,774 people · home $117,900
Palmyra questions
Is Palmyra, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmyra scores better for retirees than 68% of Missouri towns and quieter than 41%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Palmyra?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmyra is valued at $184,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,922, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmyra?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does Palmyra get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmyra since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 10, 2003. 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)