CensusEasy
CITY

Kelso

Missouri · 551 residents (2025 est.) · 0.317 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Sikeston micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Kelso has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,875. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $215,400. At a median age of 34.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
603
+14%since 2000
from 527 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,902 / sq mi
+14%since 2000
from 1,662 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.9
−9%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:551 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3904525145766381990201020202024Kelso
2024603
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,875
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,294 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,452
+91%since 2000
from $19,099 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 1.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.503
+49%since 2010
from 0.339 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Information3.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services3.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade2.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$215,400
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$591
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $385 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.6%
−18.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
35.4% rent
Vacancy rate
4.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
3.1%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.5%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+84%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
26
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kelso on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(509)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(11)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.2%(27)
2024
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(589)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.3%(14)
Diversity Score5.7%(34)
Diversity Score
6
+10%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.2%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+118%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
89.4%
+26.7 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.0%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−19.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2011
from 0.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 67.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
58.4%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.6%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Female
54.4%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.3%
−53.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2012
from 8.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−92.1 ptssince 2013
from 95.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.3%
+7.1 ptssince 2017
from 76.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Kelso

Coolidge
Pop 558
Crawfordville
Pop 507
Glen St. Mary
Pop 510
McIntosh
Pop 551
Places similar to Kelso
Head to head

Compare Kelso to nearby cities

KELSO VS
Cape Girardeau
Income$55,658−2%
Home value$196,300−9%
Population40,977+7337%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KELSO VS
Jackson
Income$77,105+36%
Home value$240,000+11%
Population16,033+2810%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KELSO VS
Sikeston
Income$58,915+4%
Home value$168,800−22%
Population15,983+2801%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KELSO VS
Carbondale
Income$32,128−44%
Home value$127,900−41%
Population21,811+3858%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kelso, Missouri?

Kelso, Missouri has about 603 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kelso, Missouri?

The typical household in Kelso, Missouri earns about $56,875 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kelso, Missouri expensive?

In Kelso, Missouri, the median home is worth about $215,400, and the typical rent is about $591 a month.

How educated are people in Kelso, Missouri?

About 24.9% of adults age 25 and over in Kelso, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kelso, Missouri?

About 12.6% of people in Kelso, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kelso, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Kelso, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 75 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Missouri
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Kelso with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →