53% of West Plains’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Springfield (6%), Willow Springs (2%) and Jefferson City (1%). Half commute less than 3 miles.

Springfield

Willow Springs

Jefferson City

Rolla

53%Work in townlive and work in West Plains 3 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 9,011Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in West Plains →

Health in West Plains

Health Grade D

Healthier than 8% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 30% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Missouri

19worse than MO

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

25.7%More older adults who have lost all their teethMO 15.8% · worse 12.9%More adults with COPDMO 8% · worse 21.1%More adults facing food insecurityMO 13.7% · worse

Care nearby

Ozarks HealthcareWest Plains · 0.4 mi · ER

Smchc Support Site: 1113-1119 Independence DriveWest Plains · 0.5 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 West Plains · CMS · HRSAHealth in West Plains →

Natural hazards in West Plains

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes🌪️ Tornadoes

54Does West Plains flood?paid flood claims since 1979 11Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to West Plains

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in West Plains →

Climate in West Plains

Full climate →

West Plains has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 9 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

47° / 26°Winter

68° / 44°Spring

87° / 64°Summer

70° / 45°Fall

How much snow does West Plains get?About 9 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 21, with the last in spring around Apr 16.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in West Plains

All West Plains schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools West Plains’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 69% of Missouri’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

See how West Plains’s schools compare in MO →

DistrictWEST PLAINS R-VIISchools6

West Plains Elem. B-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 767 students Richards Elem. B-Elementary · Grades PK–8 · 389 students West Plains Middle C+Middle · Grades 5–8 · 555 students West Plains SR. High B+High · Grades 9–12 · 1,108 students Southern Mo Tech InstituteHigh · Grades 9–12 Ozark Horizon SchoolOther · Grades K–12 · 17 students

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