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Living in
Lebanon.
About
Life in Lebanon
This county seat of about 15,000 people sits right along Interstate 44, making it a practical hub for Laclede County with solid bones for everyday life—though it's definitely a place where you'll need to be intentional about what you're looking for. The cost of living here is genuinely low: median rent hovers around $814 a month and homes run about $158,800, which means your money stretches further than in most of the country, though the median household income of around $48,000 tells you this isn't a wealthy area. The community skews white (94% as of recent census), median age sits at 37, and you'll find about a third of households are single-person or single-parent situations, reflecting a mix of young families, retirees, and people making do on single incomes.
Lebanon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.7%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
82.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lebanon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lebanon, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.0%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.7%
of residents
65 and Older
16.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.7%
of households
Married Couples
28.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
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 22% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Lebanon
In Lebanon, rent runs 22% below the MO average, and home values are 31% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,138
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $232,896 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above MO average
Unemployment in Lebanon
Unemployment in Laclede County, which includes Lebanon, is 1 percentage points higher than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Lebanon: Laclede County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Laclede County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lebanon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.4 min avg
How Lebanon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lebanon, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field (TBN)
Regional airport · few flights11k 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 12% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lebanon runs 12% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
370.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,506.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lebanon Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Laclede County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Laclede County, which includes Lebanon, the most common type is hail, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Flood | $272,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Hail | $270,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Drought | $695,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Flood | $626,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Winter Weather | $77,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Heavy Rain | $150,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Hail | $255,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Flood | $50,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Laclede County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Greene County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 47 miles from Lebanon) is typically good — 228 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
228
per year
Moderate Days
132
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Greene County, MO (47 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lebanon 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)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
8.3"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
95
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
92
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 22°F | 2.71" |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 2.60" |
| Mar | 58°F | 34°F | 3.50" |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 4.88" |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 5.89" |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.68" |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 4.09" |
| Aug | 88°F | 65°F | 4.36" |
| Sep | 80°F | 57°F | 4.07" |
| Oct | 69°F | 46°F | 3.35" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.21" |
| Dec | 46°F | 26°F | 2.52" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lebanon
Lebanon has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Mercy Hospital Lebanon
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lebanon
Lebanon's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, 57 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lebanon
Lebanon has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wilson's Creek National Battlefield (57 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
57 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lebanon
Lebanon-Laclede County Library
915 S Jefferson Ave, Lebanon
Cities Near Lebanon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lebanon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lebanon FAQ
Is Lebanon, Missouri affordable?⌄
Lebanon's median rent is $809/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,359/year. Median home value is $158,800.
Is Lebanon, Missouri safe?⌄
Lebanon's violent crime rate was 370 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1506 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lebanon, Missouri?⌄
Laclede County, which includes Lebanon, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lebanon, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Lebanon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $809/month and median household income is $48,359/year. The median home value is $158,800. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lebanon, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Lebanon is 17 minutes, which is shorter than 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