City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Vandalia, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Vandalia - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,260
Residents
$58,649
Median income
$75,600
Median home
$888
Median rent (state)

Vandalia - the verdict

Vandalia ranks in the 33rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

33rd
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Vandalia, MO

Vandalia is a small town in Missouri, home to 3,260 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Vandalia households earn a median of $58,649 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.9%. Vandalia's housing stock carries a median value of $75,600, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. Educational attainment runs 8.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 42.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Vandalia (Low Activity), per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 53.1°F with 41.3 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Missouri at 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $888 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Missouri's average monthly utility costs around $219 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 14.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

3,260 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$58,649 /yr

Poverty 12.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Vandalia compare to other US cities?

Vandalia measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 33% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Vandalia's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Missouri, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

33rdIncome percentile

33rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Vandalia's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$75,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Vandalia $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Vandalia, MO Vandalia, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vandalia, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Vandalia, MO median $58,649/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Vandalia, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Vandalia, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,260
Median Income
$58,649
Median Home Value
$75,600
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Labor force participation
42.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.1°F
Annual Precipitation
41.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,800 residents3,000 residents3,200 residents3,400 residents3,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,410 residents 3,029 residents ▼ -11.2%
Vandalia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 2
2023 2
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.4%
Carpool
12.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
0.8%

Based on 1,208 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Vandalia sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$888/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
14.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Sugar Creek
3,261 people
Louisiana
3,231 people
St. Paul
3,292 people
Cassville
3,208 people
Carrollton
3,335 people
Cuba
3,172 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vandalia's 3,260 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Athens, PA
3,260 people
Penbrook, PA
3,260 people
Meadow Oaks, FL
3,261 people
Hideaway, TX
3,259 people
Hodgenville, KY
3,262 people
Rush City, MN
3,262 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vandalia's $58,649 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Johnson, NE
$58,646 median income
Freelandville, IN
$58,654 median income
Bucksport, ME
$58,644 median income
Stanton, TN
$58,643 median income
Monterey, VA
$58,656 median income
Naselle, WA
$58,642 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vandalia, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Vandalia, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.4% 10.9% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 81.4% Black or African American 10.9% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 6.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Vandalia compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Vandalia (this city) 3,260 $58,649
Sugar Creek 3,261 $57,467
Louisiana 3,231 $46,006
St. Paul 3,292 $154,022
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vandalia, MO?

What is the population of Vandalia, MO? +

3,260 people live in Vandalia, MO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Vandalia, MO? +

Vandalia households earn a median of $58,649 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vandalia? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Vandalia; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Vandalia, MO? +

Vandalia's median home value sits at $75,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Vandalia? +

Climate normals put Vandalia's yearly average temperature at 53.1°F, 41.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.