The Town FilesPoplar Bluff, Missouri
City in Butler County · population 16,225 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,800
- Household income
- $41,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 37.3
Poplar Bluff is a city of 16,225 people in Butler County, Missouri. The median home is worth $119,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 73% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 73% of Missouri towns.
How Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff is worth $119,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $41,941, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 53.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poplar Bluff | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $760 | $855 |
| Median household income | $41,941 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Poplar Bluff
| People | Poplar Bluff | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Poplar Bluff
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 52.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.4 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poplar Bluff since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 24, 2002 about 3.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 3, 2018.
Severe weather in Butler County since 1996
Butler County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 23, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Butler County
Butler County had 18,133 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,285 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Poplar Bluff itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Poplar Bluff
13 public schools with 5,195 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| POPLAR BLUFF HIGH | 9-12 | 1,459 | 16.0 |
| POPLAR BLUFF MIDDLE SCHOOL | 4-6 | 970 | 12.8 |
| POPLAR BLUFF JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 750 | 14.2 |
| POPLAR BLUFF KINDERGARTEN CTR. | K-K | 359 | 13.3 |
| O'NEAL ELEM. | 1-3 | 335 | 11.6 |
| OAK GROVE ELEM. | 1-3 | 324 | 13.5 |
| LAKE ROAD ELEM. | 1-6 | 318 | 13.3 |
| POPLAR BLUFF EARLY CHILDHOOD C | PK-PK | 298 | 17.5 |
| EUGENE FIELD ELEM. | 1-3 | 261 | 10.0 |
| W. E. SEARS YOUTH CTR. | 5-12 | 61 | 6.8 |
| SHADY GROVE SCHOOL | K-12 | 39 | 6.5 |
| SIERRA-OSAGE TREATMENT CTR. | 5-12 | 21 | 10.5 |
Towns near Poplar Bluff
- Dexter, MO25.0 mi · 7,927 people · home $137,200
- Malden, MO25.7 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Corning, AR25.9 mi · 3,227 people · home $89,500
- Piggott, AR28.6 mi · 3,622 people · home $115,500
Poplar Bluff questions
Is Poplar Bluff, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poplar Bluff scores better for retirees than 45% of Missouri towns and quieter than 29%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Poplar Bluff?
The median owner-occupied home in Poplar Bluff is valued at $119,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,941, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Poplar Bluff?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.2 inches of precipitation a year and 5.4 inches of snow.
Does Poplar Bluff get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poplar Bluff since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 24, 2002. 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)