The Town FilesSedalia, Missouri
City in Pettis County · population 21,725 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,000
- Household income
- $50,990
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 37.3
Sedalia is a city of 21,725 people in Pettis County, Missouri. The median home is worth $143,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 88% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 88% of Missouri towns.
How Sedalia 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 Sedalia is worth $143,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $50,990, which is more affordable than 47% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $877 a month. 56.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sedalia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $877 | $855 |
| Median household income | $50,990 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Sedalia
| People | Sedalia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Sedalia
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sedalia since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 12, 1980 about 0.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 101 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 11, 1978.
Severe weather in Pettis County since 1996
Pettis County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 9, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1980: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Pettis County
Pettis County had 19,456 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,616 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Sedalia itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Sedalia
12 public schools with 5,185 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMITH-COTTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,535 | 17.4 |
| SMITH COTTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHL | 6-8 | 1,121 | 13.2 |
| SKYLINE ELEM. | K-4 | 489 | 13.6 |
| PARKVIEW ELEM. | K-4 | 452 | 12.2 |
| HEBER HUNT ELEM. | K-4 | 435 | 12.4 |
| SEDALIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-5 | 351 | 13.5 |
| HORACE MANN ELEM. | K-4 | 239 | 9.6 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | PK-PK | 238 | 10.3 |
| WASHINGTON ELEM. | K-4 | 209 | 9.5 |
| PETTIS CO. ELEM. | PK-8 | 100 | 6.3 |
| E W Thompson | K-12 | 16 | 4.0 |
| STATE FAIR | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Sedalia
- Whiteman AFB, MO17.2 mi · 2,896 people · home $328,800
- Knob Noster, MO18.0 mi · 2,782 people · home $202,600
- Windsor, MO19.6 mi · 2,775 people · home $101,400
- Tipton, MO24.8 mi · 2,920 people · home $130,200
- Warrensburg, MO26.7 mi · 19,337 people · home $222,200
- Versailles, MO28.2 mi · 2,539 people · home $117,500
- Marshall, MO28.4 mi · 13,806 people · home $147,900
Sedalia questions
Is Sedalia, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sedalia scores better for retirees than 12% of Missouri towns and quieter than 12%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Sedalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Sedalia is valued at $143,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,990, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $877 a month.
What is the weather like in Sedalia?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 13.1 inches of snow.
Does Sedalia get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sedalia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 12, 1980. 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)