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Living in
Festus.
About
Life in Festus
Festus is a community of 12,965 people in Missouri. The median household income is $73,532, median rent runs about $922 per month, and median home values are around $223,600. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Festus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
0.8%
Broadband Internet
89.5%
of households
Population Growth
+10.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.8% foreign-born, most often from Kenya
Who lives in Festus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Festus, the largest foreign-born group is from Kenya (25.2%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
47.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Festus
In Festus, rent runs 11% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
26.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,520
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $302,859 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Festus and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Festus, is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Festus: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Festus Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
St. Louis, MO-IL metro area
Commute26.4 min avg
How Festus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Festus, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 36 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 59% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Festus runs 59% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
135.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
900.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Festus Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Festus, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $852,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Hail | $170,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Hail | $140,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Festus, is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
93
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Festus has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
9.2"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
105
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
101
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 22°F | 2.68" |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 2.51" |
| Mar | 56°F | 34°F | 4.00" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 4.91" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 4.76" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 4.74" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 3.83" |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 3.59" |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 3.38" |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 2.83" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.54" |
| Dec | 45°F | 27°F | 2.80" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Festus
Uninsured
6.4%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Festus
Festus's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Festus
Festus has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
26 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
31 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Festus
Festus Public Library
400 W Main St, Festus
Cities Near Festus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Festus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Festus FAQ
Is Festus, Missouri affordable?⌄
Festus's median rent is $922/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,532/year. Median home value is $223,600.
Is Festus, Missouri safe?⌄
Festus's violent crime rate was 136 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 900 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Festus, Missouri?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Festus, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Festus, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Festus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $922/month and median household income is $73,532/year. The median home value is $223,600. About 26% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Festus, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Festus is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from