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CITY

Poplar Bluff

Missouri · 16,295 residents (2025 est.) · 13.139 sq mi
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The short version

Poplar Bluff has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,941. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $119,800. The poverty rate of 20.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,254
−2%since 2000
from 16,651 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,237 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 1,267 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.3
−4%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,295 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K17K1990201020202024Poplar Bluff
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,941
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,068 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,619
+62%since 2000
from $13,996 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.8%
+14.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
−4%since 2010
from 0.480 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,800
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$760
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
53.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 54.8% in 2000
46.9% rent
Vacancy rate
15.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+26%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Poplar Bluff on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.4%(14,384)
Black9.6%(1,605)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(224)
Asian0.5%(85)
Other0%
Diversity Score26.4%(4,395)
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.5%(12,759)
Black9.1%(1,479)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(395)
Asian0.9%(150)
Other9.1%(1,471)
Diversity Score45.8%(7,450)
Diversity Score
46
+74%since 2000
from 26 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.4%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 67.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.6 min
+68%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 55.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
23.0%
−40.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
Female
51.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.2%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 26.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.2%
−68.9 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.7%
+18.5 ptssince 2017
from 64.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

Poplar Bluff, Missouri has about 16,254 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

The typical household in Poplar Bluff, Missouri earns about $41,941 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Poplar Bluff, Missouri expensive?

In Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the median home is worth about $119,800, and the typical rent is about $760 a month.

How educated are people in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

About 14.4% of adults age 25 and over in Poplar Bluff, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

About 20.8% of people in Poplar Bluff, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Poplar Bluff, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Poplar Bluff, Missouri has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 742 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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

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