The Town FilesPortageville, Missouri
City in New Madrid County · population 2,942 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $152,400
- Household income
- $52,279
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 40.8
Portageville is a city of 2,942 people in New Madrid County, Missouri. The median home is worth $152,400, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Missouri towns, more of a college town than 89% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 71% of Missouri towns.
How Portageville 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 Portageville is worth $152,400, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $52,279, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portageville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $764 | $855 |
| Median household income | $52,279 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portageville
| People | Portageville | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Portageville
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portageville since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 24, 1973 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 18, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 3.20 inches on December 17, 2016.
Severe weather in New Madrid County since 1996
New Madrid County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in New Madrid County
New Madrid County had 7,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,792 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Portageville itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Portageville
2 public schools with 684 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PORTAGEVILLE HIGH | 6-12 | 367 | 12.2 |
| PORTAGEVILLE ELEM. | PK-5 | 317 | 11.7 |
Towns near Portageville
- Tiptonville, TN13.0 mi · 3,976 people · home $106,500
- New Madrid, MO13.6 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Caruthersville, MO17.2 mi · 5,562 people · home $107,700
- Malden, MO20.4 mi · 3,706 people · home $101,300
- Kennett, MO23.4 mi · 10,515 people · home $112,000
- Piggott, AR27.9 mi · 3,622 people · home $115,500
- Dexter, MO29.1 mi · 7,927 people · home $137,200
- East Prairie, MO29.8 mi · 2,943 people · home $68,400
Portageville questions
Is Portageville, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portageville scores better for retirees than 40% of Missouri towns and quieter than 18%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Portageville?
The median owner-occupied home in Portageville is valued at $152,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,279, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Portageville?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 6.6 inches of snow.
Does Portageville get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portageville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 24, 1973. 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)