Crawford-county-courthouse, 2007
Steelville’s story
191 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2007.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1835Steelville is settled
SteelvilleMO
Trash day: WednesdayPopulation
1,447
2025 Census estimate · −1.4% since 2020
Typical home
$208K
+11.2% in a year
Household income
$32K
median
Median age
38.1
years
Jobs based here
699
Balanced
Is Steelville a good place to live?
Steelville’s best subject grade is an A− for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 35% of residents live below the poverty line in Steelville, against 14% in Missouri’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. On incomes, just 7 of Missouri’s 419 towns do worse. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 93% of the country. On the outdoors, just 30 of Missouri’s 419 towns do worse. Big Bend Rural School is on the National Register of Historic Places. Steelville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Steelville stand out
Where Steelville beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
Steelville$208K
Missouri$265K
Cost of livingA−
3.6 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 84% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
1historic places
History
Settled in 1835
1 place on the National Register
A history going back 191 years.
Small town
1,447 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Steelville grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Steelville is from typical.
Jobs & income$32K median household incomeD−Open →HealthMissouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital 18.6 miles awayDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →Cost of livingA−Open →SafetyC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.6 of 20; 9.4% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksD−Open →History1 place on the National Register; 3 notable people born hereB+Open →Civic life2.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$208K typical home, up 11.2% in a year–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.1; 13% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Steelville: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Steelville, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of SteelvilleEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterSteelville PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWednesdayTrash dayTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCrawfordCrawford County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6556565565 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Steelville.
HealthD
For health, Steelville earns a D
21% of adults smoke cigarettes in Steelville, where Missouri’s towns sit at 17% and U.S. towns at 14%. 43% of Steelville adults have obesity. Steelville beats the Missouri average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 16.
7%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Steelville | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 22% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better16 too close to call16 worse
| What stands out | Steelville | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 28.8% | 15.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.2% | 8% |
| More smokers | 21.2% | 16% |
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
18.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB−
Steelville’s schools rank ahead of 50% of Missouri districts
Its public schools are run by Steelville R-III. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
50%of MO districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelville Elem.Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 346 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduation
SafetyC−
Steelville reports more crime per resident than 82% of U.S. towns
Steelville’s property crime rate is 16 per 1,000 residents.
18%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Steelville | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16 per 1,000 residents | 12.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.1 per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Steelville2.1
Missouri4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Steelville16
Missouri16.9
U.S.15.5
18th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
23
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Steelville, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 83% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 20 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Steelville.
83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesHeat waves
20
paid flood claims since 1979
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade A−
Steelville stands out in Missouri and nationally: the median rent there is lower
The median rent in Steelville is $599 a month. Typical home values rose 11% in the year to September 2026. 44% of households own their home in Steelville.
$208KZillow home value
| Steelville | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 44% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $599 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Steelville$208K
Missouri$265K
+11.2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Steelville
Steelville has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 21° and about 17 inches of snow falls in a winter.
17″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–46°
Spring42–68°
Summer62–87°
Fall43–69°
Oct 8
typical first frost
Apr 26
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
The median household income in Steelville is lower than in the typical Missouri or U.S. town
Among 248 Missouri towns, just 4 have a lower median household income than Steelville. Since 2013, Steelville has lost 82 jobs, to 699 in 2023. Most working residents leave Steelville for work: only 12% work in town.
12%work in town
| Steelville | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 13% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Steelville12%
Cuba12%
Rolla6%
Sullivan5%
Columbia3%
23 mi
median commute distance
699
jobs based in Steelville
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 38% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Steelville
19pages on Steelville
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 50% of MO districts · 2 schoolsSafetyC−2.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than MO on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$208K typical home · up 11.2% in a yearWork & commuteD−$32K median household income · 699 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Steelville; the nearest are
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · Rolla22.8 mi$14,984 in-state tuitionEast Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · Union37.9 mi$4,272 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Steelville residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
A shrinking town
Steelville has shrunk 12% since 2010
1,642 counted in 2010 and 1,472 in 2020; an estimated 1,447 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Famous people from Steelville
3 notable people were born in Steelville.
About Steelville
City in Missouri, United States
Steelville is a city in Crawford County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,472 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County. Steelville is the hometown of Congressman Albert Reeves and Missouri State Representative Jason Chipman. The town was named after the landowner James Steel.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1835
- Area
- 2.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 748 ft
- ZIP code
- 65565
- Area code
- 573
Questions about Steelville
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Steelville, MO expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
What is Steelville, MO known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Albert Lee Reeves, Jr. and Clyde Smith.