2008 · Bridge Over Creek 01 · Wikimedia Commons
Seneca’s story
Seneca in pictures
10 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
SenecaMO
A town of 1,906. Healthier than 90% of U.S. towns.
Photo: TheWhitePelican · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,906
−4.5% since 2010
Typical home
$225K
+5% in a year
Household income
$46K
median
Median age
39.9
years
Jobs based here
559
A commuter town
What makes Seneca stand out
The 3 things Seneca does most differently from other towns.
100 U.S. towns● Seneca
Health
90% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than MO on 0 measures, worse on 12.
100 U.S. towns● Seneca
Safety
Safer than 29%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade C. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
B+School Grade
Schools
Better than 66%
of MO districts
School Grade B+.
A commuter town
90% of working residents leave Seneca for work
Where Seneca’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
559jobs based in Seneca
10%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Seneca’s report card
Now in Seneca
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Seneca? Is a D for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Seneca’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →70°
Clear
H 0° · L 65°
Local news
All →- Seneca PTO to celebrate new shade structure with ribbon-cutting ceremonyNewstalk KZRG · Sep 23
- Seneca man facing child abuse charges faces new rape chargeFourStatesHomepage.com · Sep 18
- Seneca superintendent announces retirement after 28 yearsFourStatesHomepage.com · Sep 16
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Seneca. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Seneca beats the Missouri average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12.
DHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better20 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Seneca | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.6% | 8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 17.6% | 13.7% |
| More smokers | 20.2% | 16% |
Freeman Neosho Hospital
13.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
26th
percentile among MO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 90% of U.S. communities.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
31
paid flood claims since 1986
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
About one in ten working residents works right in Seneca
Most working residents leave Seneca for work: only 10% work in town. The top destinations are Joplin (25%), Neosho (9%) and Springfield (5%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
10%work in town
Where working residents work
In Seneca10%
Joplin25%
Neosho9%
Springfield5%
Carthage3%
17 mi
median commute distance
559
jobs based in Seneca
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 29% of U.S. towns
Seneca reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 71% report less.
CSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Seneca3.4
Missouri4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Seneca9.8
Missouri16.9
U.S.15.5
29th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
38th
percentile among MO towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
23
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Schools
Seneca’s public schools outperform 66% of Missouri districts
The public schools Seneca’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 66% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Elem. | PK–3 | 417 | C− |
| Seneca Intermediate School | 4–6 | 305 | B+ |
| Seneca Junior High | 7–8 | 231 | C |
| Seneca High | 9–12 | 450 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduationAll 4 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Seneca has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 8 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
8″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–49°
Spring47–69°
Summer67–89°
Fall48–71°
Oct 31
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Seneca home is worth about $225K
The typical Seneca home is worth about $225,000, up 5% in a year, 16% below the Missouri typical home.
$225KZillow home value
Typical home value
Seneca$225K
Missouri$268K
+5%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Famous people from Seneca
5 notable people were born in Seneca.
About Seneca
City in Missouri, United States
Seneca is a city in western Newton County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, Seneca had a population of 2,230. Located on the southwestern border of the state, the city is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,230
- Area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 846 ft
- ZIP code
- 64865
- Area code
- 417
More about Seneca
Still missing for Seneca:upcoming events