The Town FilesVandalia, Missouri
City in Audrain County · population 3,553 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $84,500
- Household income
- $50,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 40.2
Vandalia is a city of 3,553 people in Audrain County, Missouri. The median home is worth $84,500, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Missouri towns, more walkable than 73% of Missouri towns.
How Vandalia 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 Vandalia is worth $84,500, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $50,313, which is more affordable than 91% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 64.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vandalia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $814 | $855 |
| Median household income | $50,313 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Vandalia
| People | Vandalia | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.9% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Vandalia
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 41.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandalia since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on December 27, 2008 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2011.
Severe weather in Audrain County since 1996
Audrain County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Audrain County
Audrain County had 8,074 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,465 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Vandalia itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Vandalia
5 public schools with 569 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAN-FAR ELEM. | PK-6 | 325 | 12.0 |
| VAN-FAR JR./SR. HIGH | 7-12 | 244 | 10.6 |
| WOMEN'S EAST REGION TRTMT CTR | 7-12 | — | — |
| WOMEN E. RECEP/DIAG COR C/DIAG | 7-12 | — | — |
| WOMEN E. RECEP/DIAG COR C/ACAD | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Vandalia
- Bowling Green, MO15.5 mi · 4,195 people · home $128,800
- Mexico, MO22.9 mi · 11,469 people · home $139,800
- Montgomery City, MO23.1 mi · 2,811 people · home $161,100
- Louisiana, MO24.6 mi · 3,199 people · home $72,100
- Monroe City, MO27.2 mi · 2,652 people · home $159,300
- Hannibal, MO28.2 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
Vandalia questions
Is Vandalia, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vandalia scores better for retirees than 39% of Missouri towns and quieter than 63%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Vandalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Vandalia is valued at $84,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,313, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Vandalia?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 15.6 inches of snow.
Does Vandalia get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandalia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on December 27, 2008. 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)