The Town FilesWest Plains, Missouri
City in Howell County · population 12,184 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,900
- Household income
- $44,002
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 36.3
West Plains is a city of 12,184 people in Howell County, Missouri. The median home is worth $169,900, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more vibrant than 75% of Missouri towns.
How West Plains 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 West Plains is worth $169,900, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $44,002, which is more affordable than 7% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $810 a month. 52.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Plains | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $810 | $855 |
| Median household income | $44,002 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in West Plains
| People | West Plains | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.7% |
Weather in West Plains
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.7 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Plains since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1982 about 0.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 29, 1985.
Severe weather in Howell County since 1996
Howell 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 1, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Howell County
Howell County had 15,361 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,674 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in West Plains itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in West Plains
11 public schools with 4,192 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST PLAINS SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 1,145 | 18.2 |
| WEST PLAINS ELEM. | PK-4 | 776 | 12.1 |
| WEST PLAINS MIDDLE | 5-8 | 564 | 13.8 |
| FAIRVIEW ELEM. | PK-8 | 487 | 11.6 |
| RICHARDS ELEM. | PK-8 | 385 | 14.3 |
| GLENWOOD ELEM. | PK-8 | 245 | 11.1 |
| HOWELL VALLEY ELEM. | PK-8 | 206 | 12.9 |
| SOUTH FORK ELEM. | PK-6 | 183 | 13.1 |
| JUNCTION HILL ELEM. | PK-8 | 181 | 10.6 |
| OZARK HORIZON SCHOOL | K-12 | 20 | 5.0 |
| Southern MO Tech Institute | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near West Plains
- Mountain View, MO19.9 mi · 2,533 people · home $123,500
West Plains questions
Is West Plains, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Plains scores better for retirees than 30% of Missouri towns and quieter than 29%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in West Plains?
The median owner-occupied home in West Plains is valued at $169,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,002, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $810 a month.
What is the weather like in West Plains?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 8.7 inches of snow.
Does West Plains get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Plains since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1982. 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)