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COUNTY

Howell County

Missouri · 40,798 residents (2025 est.) · 927.177 sq mi
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The short version

Howell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,993. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 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 $173,000. The poverty rate of 20.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
40,383
+8%since 2000
from 37,238 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
44 / sq mi
+5%since 2009
from 42 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.3
+5%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,798 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
31K33K36K39K41K1990201020202024Howell County
202440K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(2,439)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(2,762)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(2,812)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(2,611)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(2,268)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.5%(4,634)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(4,710)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(4,826)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.1%(5,275)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.4%(4,598)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.5%(2,626)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(822)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,993
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,628 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,570
+98%since 2000
from $13,959 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.4%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+11%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$173,000
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$733
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
29.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+23%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
40
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Howell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(35,623)
Black0.3%(114)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(450)
Asian0.3%(130)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(36,940)
Black0.5%(194)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(1,042)
Asian0.4%(177)
Other5%(2,030)
Diversity Score
20
+69%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−33%since 2020
from 25 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%(561)
Spaniard0.3%(124)
Guatemalan0.1%(58)
Cuban0.1%(44)
Panamanian0.1%(25)
Bolivian0%(17)
Argentine0%(15)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(58)
Chinese0.1%(52)
Filipino0.1%(36)
Asian Indian0.1%(34)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(22)
Ancestry
English15.1%(6,085)
German13.6%(5,479)
Irish12.1%(4,890)
American9%(3,637)
Italian2.3%(926)
French2%(790)
Norwegian1.4%(565)
Dutch1.4%(562)
Ukrainian1.3%(528)
Welsh1.1%(454)
Scottish1.1%(449)
Polish1%(424)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.9%(368)
Swedish0.5%(199)
Armenian0.2%(83)
British0.2%(64)
Hungarian0.2%(62)
Lithuanian0.1%(57)
Finnish0.1%(54)
Danish0.1%(51)
Canadian0.1%(48)
Swiss0.1%(48)
Austrian0.1%(42)
Croatian0.1%(38)
Russian0.1%(32)
Portuguese0.1%(27)
Czech0.1%(23)
Slovak0%(16)
Greek0%(13)
Belgian0%(7)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.8%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.9%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.1 min
+73%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.6%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.1%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% 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
6.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 54.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.5%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.2%
−38.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.7%
−72.8 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.6%
+20.8 ptssince 2017
from 64.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.4%(4,577)
Married55.3%(8,594)
Widowed3.7%(568)
Divorced11.6%(1,811)
Women 15+
Never married22.6%(3,801)
Married51.8%(8,712)
Widowed11.5%(1,932)
Divorced14.1%(2,375)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Howell County to nearby counties

HOWELL COUNTY VS
Fulton County
Income$42,241−17%
Home value$113,800−34%
Population12,492−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWELL COUNTY VS
Oregon County
Income$43,069−16%
Home value$113,300−35%
Population8,709−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWELL COUNTY VS
Ozark County
Income$44,163−13%
Home value$168,600−3%
Population9,172−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWELL COUNTY VS
Douglas County
Income$45,985−10%
Home value$168,200−3%
Population12,342−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howell County, Missouri?

Howell County, Missouri has about 40,383 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Howell County, Missouri earns about $50,993 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Howell County, Missouri expensive?

In Howell County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $173,000, and the typical rent is about $733 a month.

How educated are people in Howell County, Missouri?

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

What is the poverty rate in Howell County, Missouri?

About 20.3% of people in Howell County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Howell County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Howell County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,936 residents, a change of about 28 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 905Census Tract 907Census Tract 906Census Tract 904Census Tract 903Census Tract 902Census Tract 908.01Census Tract 908.02Census Tract 901.01Census Tract 901.02
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 65775ZIP 65548ZIP 65793ZIP 65789ZIP 65790ZIP 65788ZIP 65777ZIP 65688
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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