The Town FilesPlatte City, Missouri
City in Platte County · population 4,784 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,800
- Household income
- $71,498
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.5
Platte City is a city of 4,784 people in Platte County, Missouri. The median home is worth $210,800, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 87% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 83% of Missouri towns.
How Platte City 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 Platte City is worth $210,800, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $71,498, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,226 a month. 47.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Platte City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,226 | $855 |
| Median household income | $71,498 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 47.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Platte City
| People | Platte City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 88.7% |
Weather in Platte City
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 19.5°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.2 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Platte City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1966 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 171 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 19, 2011.
Severe weather in Platte County since 1996
Platte County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 20, 2019 | Flood | DR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Platte County
Platte County had 48,079 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,070 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Platte City itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Platte City
5 public schools with 3,144 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLATTE COUNTY HIGH | 9-12 | 1,336 | 17.6 |
| PLATTE CITY MIDDLE | 6-8 | 669 | 13.9 |
| DONALD D. SIEGRIST ELEM. | PK-5 | 607 | 12.6 |
| COMPASS ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 532 | 13.6 |
| NORTHLAND CAREER CTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Platte City
- Leavenworth, KS9.4 mi · 37,351 people · home $193,000
- Smithville, MO10.2 mi · 10,406 people · home $290,600
- Parkville, MO10.4 mi · 7,117 people · home $573,500
- Lansing, KS11.1 mi · 11,239 people · home $270,800
- Riverside, MO14.6 mi · 4,013 people · home $411,300
- Gladstone, MO14.6 mi · 27,063 people · home $231,500
- Kansas City, KS16.4 mi · 156,607 people · home $167,400
- Pleasant Valley, MO17.7 mi · 2,743 people · home $202,000
Platte City questions
Is Platte City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Platte City scores better for retirees than 37% of Missouri towns and quieter than 7%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Platte City?
The median owner-occupied home in Platte City is valued at $210,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,498, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,226 a month.
What is the weather like in Platte City?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 19.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 18.2 inches of snow.
Does Platte City get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Platte City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1966. 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)