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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Buchanan County

Missouri · 84,793 residents · 408 sq mi
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The short version

Buchanan County is home to 84,793 people in Missouri. About 22% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $126,000, having risen by half since 2000. Getting to work takes 17 minutes on average. 4% of locals were born outside the United States. Renters pay $784 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
84,793
−1%since 2000
from 85,998 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.1
+8%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
408 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
82K84K86K88K90K19902000201020202024Buchanan County
202484K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.8%(4,932)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(5,153)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(5,392)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.6%(5,632)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.8%(5,731)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.1%(11,067)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.2%(10,375)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(9,963)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.8%(11,685)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.1%(8,536)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.2%(4,449)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.2%(1,878)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,933
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,704 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,854
+50%since 2000
from $17,882 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.9%
+10.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade18%
US avg: 10%
Information11.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$126,000
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$784
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $435 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
63.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 67.6% in 2000
36.9% rent
Persons per household
2.49 people
−2%since 2009
from 2.54 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.4
−4%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.2%(78,406)
Black4.3%(3,714)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(2,086)
Asian0.4%(384)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic80.7%(68,391)
Black5.1%(4,303)
Hispanic / Latino6.6%(5,600)
Asian1.2%(1,048)
Other4.7%(4,018)
Segregation Score
23
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
Mexican4.5%(3,913)
Puerto Rican0.6%(544)
Cuban0.6%(526)
Salvadoran0.3%(275)
Guatemalan0.2%(150)
Bolivian0.1%(91)
Panamanian0.1%(47)
Argentine0%(27)
Colombian0%(13)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(276)
Asian Indian0.3%(253)
Vietnamese0.3%(222)
Burmese0.1%(110)
Filipino0.1%(91)
Korean0.1%(60)
Laotian0%(32)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.2%(139)
Samoan0.1%(75)
Ancestry
German22%(19,315)
Irish13%(11,439)
English8.9%(7,834)
American7.8%(6,821)
French2.2%(1,921)
Scottish1.9%(1,706)
Polish1.9%(1,670)
Italian1.8%(1,568)
Dutch1.6%(1,438)
Scotch-Irish1.5%(1,286)
Norwegian1%(861)
Swedish0.9%(818)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.6%(530)
Welsh0.5%(430)
British0.3%(292)
Danish0.3%(273)
Russian0.2%(201)
Czech0.2%(195)
Hungarian0.2%(181)
Ukrainian0.2%(174)
Greek0.2%(150)
Croatian0.2%(137)
Austrian0.1%(104)
Ethiopian0.1%(99)
Australian0.1%(72)
Romanian0.1%(67)
Portuguese0.1%(50)
Arab0%(33)
Moroccan0%(31)
Canadian0%(29)
Finnish0%(23)
Belgian0%(22)
Jamaican0%(19)
Lebanese0%(15)
Slovak0%(14)
Serbian0%(13)
Iranian0%(8)
Haitian0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.8%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.8 min
+27%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 64.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
71.0%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
28.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
12.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
87.4%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
83.3%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married37.6%(12,839)
Married45%(15,349)
Widowed2.7%(923)
Divorced14.7%(5,011)
Women 15+
Never married27.7%(9,394)
Married43.5%(14,757)
Widowed10.2%(3,472)
Divorced18.6%(6,323)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
12.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
48.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
18.2%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
19.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
17.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
66.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
34.5%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)18.7%(1,126)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)21.3%(1,277)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era38.6%(2,317)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War11.4%(683)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.2%(131)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 6,008 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Buchanan County to nearby counties

BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Platte County
Income$96,227+85%
Home value$345,100+174%
Population114,400+37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Doniphan County
Income$74,028+43%
Home value$135,200+7%
Population7,594−91%
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BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Clinton County
Income$70,627+36%
Home value$226,800+80%
Population21,661−74%
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BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Andrew County
Income$75,625+46%
Home value$215,400+71%
Population18,241−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buchanan County, Missouri?

Buchanan County, Missouri has about 84,793 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Buchanan County, Missouri earns about $51,933 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buchanan County, Missouri expensive?

In Buchanan County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $126,000, and the typical rent is about $784 a month.

How educated are people in Buchanan County, Missouri?

About 21.9% of adults age 25 and over in Buchanan County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buchanan County, Missouri?

About 15.7% of people in Buchanan County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buchanan County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Buchanan County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,710 residents, a change of about 2 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 →