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COUNTY

Benton County

Missouri · 20,536 residents (2025 est.) · 704.033 sq mi
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The short version

Benton County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,567. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 15% 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 $177,900. With a median age of 54.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 26% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 54.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,151
+17%since 2000
from 17,180 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
29 / sq mi
+9%since 2009
from 26 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
54.5
+18%since 2000
from 46.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,536 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K15K17K19K21K1990201020202024Benton County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54%(806)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(978)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.9%(983)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.1%(1,032)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(941)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.2%(1,455)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448.8%(1,776)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.4%(2,298)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.7%(3,560)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7418.6%(3,750)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.4%(1,902)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(670)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,567
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,646 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,477
+110%since 2000
from $15,457 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.1%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
+8%since 2010
from 0.440 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade13.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade11.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$177,900
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$773
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $364 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
16.2% rent
Vacancy rate
36.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 38.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+13%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Benton County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(16,709)
Black0.1%(24)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(153)
Asian0.1%(21)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(18,460)
Black1%(193)
Hispanic / Latino2%(411)
Asian0.2%(32)
Other5.2%(1,055)
Diversity Score
20
+117%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
23
+13%since 2020
from 20 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(289)
Colombian0.2%(41)
Puerto Rican0.2%(31)
Spaniard0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(15)
Filipino0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German27.3%(5,510)
English14.3%(2,879)
Irish11.9%(2,402)
American8.2%(1,662)
Scottish2.4%(475)
Dutch1.7%(342)
French1.5%(306)
Polish1.4%(276)
Italian1.3%(270)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(266)
Ukrainian1.3%(259)
Swedish0.8%(156)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.8%(154)
Russian0.7%(138)
Norwegian0.3%(63)
Welsh0.3%(63)
Swiss0.3%(56)
Austrian0.3%(55)
Czech0.2%(47)
West Indian0.2%(40)
Greek0.2%(39)
British0.2%(34)
Romanian0.1%(16)
Slovak0.1%(16)
Hungarian0.1%(15)
Portuguese0.1%(15)
Finnish0%(10)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.0%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.9%
+17.0 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.5 min
+58%since 2000
from 19.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% 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
4.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 47.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.9%
−29.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
12.0%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2012
from 22.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−76.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.3%
+23.1 ptssince 2017
from 60.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.8%(2,098)
Married56.9%(5,025)
Widowed5.5%(487)
Divorced13.8%(1,218)
Women 15+
Never married14.5%(1,242)
Married57.9%(4,950)
Widowed13.9%(1,186)
Divorced13.8%(1,178)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Benton County to nearby counties

BENTON COUNTY VS
Morgan County
Income$53,412+2%
Home value$194,400+9%
Population22,418+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON COUNTY VS
Hickory County
Income$39,390−25%
Home value$176,100−1%
Population9,044−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON COUNTY VS
Henry County
Income$57,926+10%
Home value$160,600−10%
Population22,671+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON COUNTY VS
Pettis County
Income$60,430+15%
Home value$166,300−7%
Population44,254+115%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Benton County, Missouri?

Benton County, Missouri has about 20,151 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Benton County, Missouri?

The typical household in Benton County, Missouri earns about $52,567 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Benton County, Missouri expensive?

In Benton County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $177,900, and the typical rent is about $773 a month.

How educated are people in Benton County, Missouri?

About 15.0% of adults age 25 and over in Benton County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Benton County, Missouri?

About 19.9% of people in Benton County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Benton County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Benton County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,292 residents, a change of about 45 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 4603Census Tract 4601Census Tract 4602Census Tract 4608.02Census Tract 4604Census Tract 4607.02Census Tract 4608.01Census Tract 4607.01
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 65355ZIP 65338ZIP 65325ZIP 65326ZIP 65345
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →