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CITY

Steele

Missouri · 1,692 residents (2025 est.) · 2.162 sq mi
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The short version

Steele has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,600. Population has fallen 34% since 2000, a loss of 770 residents. 18% 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 $119,200. The poverty rate of 24.4% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,493
−34%since 2000
from 2,263 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
691 / sq mi
−34%since 2000
from 1,047 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.4
+14%since 2000
from 33.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,692 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K3K1990201020202024Steele
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,600
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,958 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,976
+133%since 2000
from $13,695 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.2%
+22.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 31.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.516
+14%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade34.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information15%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,200
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$707
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $286 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
49.4%
−5.4 ptssince 2000
from 54.8% in 2000
50.6% rent
Vacancy rate
22.1%
+16.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
10.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+3%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
64
RELATED:See current rent listings in Steele on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.2%(1,815)
Black17.3%(391)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(41)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score39.6%(897)
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.8%(1,132)
Black7.4%(110)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(40)
Asian0%(0)
Other14.1%(211)
Diversity Score49.9%(745)
Diversity Score
50
+26%since 2000
from 40 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.8%
+35.4 ptssince 2000
from 53.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.7 min
+80%since 2000
from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.8%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% 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
7.4%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
16.0%
+4.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.1%
+14.4 ptssince 2011
from 49.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.6%
−28.0 ptssince 2009
from 56.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
56.1%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−40.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2012
from 23.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−76.6 ptssince 2013
from 85.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+14.5 ptssince 2017
from 70.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2016
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
−3.0 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Steele

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Pop 1,639
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Head to head

Compare Steele to nearby cities

STEELE VS
Blytheville
Income$47,865−12%
Home value$119,000same
Population12,227+623%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEELE VS
Kennett
Income$52,500−4%
Home value$112,000−6%
Population10,118+498%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEELE VS
Dyersburg
Income$52,064−5%
Home value$168,300+41%
Population15,906+840%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STEELE VS
Paragould
Income$56,980+4%
Home value$181,500+52%
Population31,135+1740%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Steele, Missouri?

Steele, Missouri has about 1,493 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Steele, Missouri?

The typical household in Steele, Missouri earns about $54,600 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Steele, Missouri expensive?

In Steele, Missouri, the median home is worth about $119,200, and the typical rent is about $707 a month.

How educated are people in Steele, Missouri?

About 17.8% of adults age 25 and over in Steele, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Steele, Missouri?

About 24.4% of people in Steele, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Steele, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Steele, Missouri has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 906 residents, a change of about -38 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →