CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Howell County

Missouri · 39,750 residents · 927.177 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the West Plains micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Howell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,482. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $114,600. The poverty rate of 23.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 31% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% 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
39,750
+7%since 2000
from 37,238 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
43 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 40 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
41.5
+9%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
31K33K36K39K41K1990201020202024Howell County
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,482
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,628 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,375
+46%since 2000
from $13,959 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.0%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
23.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.9%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$114,600
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$605
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
67.2%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
32.8% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+12%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score4.7%(1,754)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(35,972)
Black0.5%(180)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(896)
Asian0.5%(217)
Other2.7%(1,068)
Diversity Score14.8%(5,863)
Segregation Score24.7%(9,815)
Diversity Score
15
+213%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
25
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.3%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.0%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+49%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 54.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
34.1%
−23.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
15.9%
−68.6 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Howell County

Coffee County
Pop 44,407
Miller County
Pop 42,357
Tift County
Pop 42,254
Covington County
Pop 37,947
Places similar to Howell County
Head to head

Compare Howell County to nearby counties

HOWELL COUNTY VS
Fulton County
Income$42,241+7%
Home value$113,800−1%
Population12,492−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWELL COUNTY VS
Oregon County
Income$43,069+9%
Home value$113,300−1%
Population8,709−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWELL COUNTY VS
Ozark County
Income$44,163+12%
Home value$168,600+47%
Population9,172−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOWELL COUNTY VS
Douglas County
Income$45,985+16%
Home value$168,200+47%
Population12,342−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Howell County, Missouri?

Howell County, Missouri has about 39,750 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Howell County, Missouri earns about $39,482 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 $114,600, and the typical rent is about $605 a month.

How educated are people in Howell County, Missouri?

About 17.3% 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 23.8% 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 8,303 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

Keep going

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
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Missouri
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →