Tarkio is a city in Tarkio Township, Atchison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,506 at the 2020 census. It was platted in 1880 and incorporated in 1881. The name "Tarkio" is derived from the Meskwaki language meaning "place where walnuts grow".

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code64491

Area code660

Living in Tarkio

Housing in Tarkio

$127K▼ 1.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Tarkio home is worth about $127,000, down 1.3% in a year, 53% below the Missouri typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Tarkio

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Tarkio for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Rock Port (9%), Maryville (6%) and Kansas City (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Rock Port

Maryville

Kansas City

Fairfax

17%Work in townlive and work in Tarkio 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 326Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Tarkio →

Health in Tarkio

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 16% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Missouri

1better than MO·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81.2%More adults treating high blood pressureMO 77.2% · better 9.4%More adults with heart diseaseMO 6.8% · worse

Care nearby

Community Hospital AssociationFairfax · 8.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Mound City ClinicMound City · 22.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Tarkio · CMS · HRSAHealth in Tarkio →

Natural hazards in Tarkio

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌵 Drought🌪️ Tornadoes

15Does Tarkio flood?paid flood claims since 1982 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Tarkio

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Tarkio →

Climate in Tarkio

Full climate →

Tarkio has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 30 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

38° / 19°Winter

64° / 41°Spring

85° / 64°Summer

65° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Tarkio get?About 30 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 15, with the last in spring around Apr 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Tarkio →

Schools in Tarkio

All Tarkio schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Tarkio’s kids attend outperform 64% of Missouri’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictTARKIO R-ISchools2

Tarkio Elementary C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 142 students Tarkio JH and High School B+High · Grades 6–12 · 176 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within MO. Ratings are from neighbors.