CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Poplar Bluff

Missouri · 16,225 residents · 13.139 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Poplar Bluff micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Poplar Bluff has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $35,603. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $104,300. The poverty rate of 26.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 38% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,225
−3%since 2000
from 16,651 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,235 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,267 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.3
−4%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K17K1990201020202024Poplar Bluff
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,603
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,068 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,461
+46%since 2000
from $13,996 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
17.4%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
26.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information17.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade14%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing1.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 2%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$104,300
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$646
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
46.7%
−8.1 ptssince 2000
from 54.8% in 2000
53.3% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+29%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic76.5%(12,410)
Black11.5%(1,865)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(461)
Asian0.9%(144)
Other5.7%(920)
Diversity Score45.6%(7,399)
Diversity Score
46
+73%since 2000
from 26 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.4%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 67.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.6 min
+40%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
15.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
49.9%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 55.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
20.0%
−43.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.2%
−70.9 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Poplar Bluff

Brownsville
Pop 16,936
Opa-locka
Pop 16,177
Bayshore Gardens
Pop 18,131
Lady Lake
Pop 17,496
Places similar to Poplar Bluff
Head to head

Compare Poplar Bluff to nearby cities

POPLAR BLUFF VS
Kennett
Income$52,500+47%
Home value$112,000+7%
Population10,118−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POPLAR BLUFF VS
Sikeston
Income$58,915+65%
Home value$168,800+62%
Population15,983−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POPLAR BLUFF VS
Paragould
Income$56,980+60%
Home value$181,500+74%
Population31,135+91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POPLAR BLUFF VS
Jackson
Income$77,105+117%
Home value$240,000+130%
Population16,033−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

Poplar Bluff, Missouri has about 16,225 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Poplar Bluff, Missouri earns about $35,603 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 $104,300, and the typical rent is about $646 a month.

How educated are people in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?

About 11.5% 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 26.6% 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 771 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →