The Town FilesRolla, Missouri
City in Phelps County · population 19,943 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,000
- Household income
- $46,204
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 28.2
Rolla is a city of 19,943 people in Phelps County, Missouri. The median home is worth $187,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 86% of Missouri towns.
How Rolla 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 Rolla is worth $187,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $46,204, which is more affordable than 7% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $789 a month. 39.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rolla | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $789 | $855 |
| Median household income | $46,204 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 39.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Rolla
| People | Rolla | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in Rolla
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 22.4°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.3 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rolla since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 31, 2010 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Phelps County since 1996
Phelps County has been included in 25 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 |
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Phelps County
Phelps County had 19,225 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,599 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Rolla itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Rolla
9 public schools with 4,232 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROLLA SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 1,383 | 18.9 |
| ROLLA MIDDLE | 4-6 | 840 | 16.2 |
| ROLLA JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 606 | 15.5 |
| MARK TWAIN ELEM. | PK-3 | 477 | 14.5 |
| COL. JOHN B. WYMAN ELEM. | PK-3 | 455 | 13.0 |
| HARRY S. TRUMAN ELEM. | PK-3 | 441 | 13.0 |
| B W ROBINSON SCHOOL | K-12 | 30 | 5.0 |
| ROLLA TECHNICAL INST. | 9-12 | — | — |
| ROLLA TECHNICAL CTR. | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Rolla
- St. James, MO8.9 mi · 3,935 people · home $142,000
- Cuba, MO21.1 mi · 3,181 people · home $136,600
- St. Robert, MO22.9 mi · 5,192 people · home $225,300
- Fort Leonard Wood, MO23.9 mi · 15,959 people · home —
- Salem, MO24.5 mi · 4,608 people · home $115,000
- Waynesville, MO26.5 mi · 5,406 people · home $200,000
Rolla questions
Is Rolla, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rolla scores better for retirees than 16% of Missouri towns and quieter than 10%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.2).
How much does a house cost in Rolla?
The median owner-occupied home in Rolla is valued at $187,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,204, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $789 a month.
What is the weather like in Rolla?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 22.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.3 inches of snow.
Does Rolla get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rolla since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 31, 2010. 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)