Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The town, settled in 1879, counts 386 residents.
25% of residents live below the poverty line in Novinger, above both Missouri’s towns (14%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 248 in Missouri we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Novinger. Novinger has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 32 in 1880, a peak of 1,743 in 1920, 383 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 1997 and 3 maps from 1938 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Novinger, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Novinger.
Public schools: the Adair Co. R-I school district. Its two schools are below. The 2 public schools in Novinger teach 206 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adair Co. Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 105 | C− |
| Adair Co. HighLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 101 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts
Typical home values rose 6.2% in the year to September 2026. For households in Novinger, the share who are owner-occupiers is 79%.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
In Novinger, the typical household income is $53,000. Only 4% of working residents stay in Novinger for work; the rest commute out. The top destinations are Kirksville (42%), Ottumwa (2%) and Milan (2%). For half of commuters, work is under 8 miles away.
| Novinger | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.8% | 13% | 8% |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Novinger’s natural-hazard score from FEMA is 73 of 100. 53% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by tornadoes at 22%. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Novinger after 6 declared disasters, most recently in 2023.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Only 10 of the 248 Missouri towns we compare have a lower midsummer high than Novinger. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 16° and about 19 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In Novinger, 17% of adults smoke cigarettes. Two figures for adults locally: 26% have been diagnosed with depression, 31% get no exercise outside work.
| Novinger | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 25% | 23% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 30% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 14% |
| What stands out | Novinger | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.6% | 15.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
2 within 15 miles of the center of Novinger
About 6 of every 100 Novinger residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Missouri.
Where Novinger’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Novinger has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.