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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Perry County

Missouri · 18,956 residents · 474 sq mi
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The short version

Perry County is home to 18,956 people in Missouri. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 2%. The typical home is worth $151,900, having more than doubled since 2000. The median age is 42.1, about 3 years above the US median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

18,956
+5%since 2000
from 18,132 in 2000
1990 – 2025
42.1
+14%since 2000
from 36.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
474 sq mi
Population, 19902024
16K17K18K19K19K19902000201020202024Perry County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.8%(1,093)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(1,174)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147%(1,335)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.5%(1,227)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(1,029)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.2%(2,118)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.6%(2,206)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.3%(2,329)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.2%(2,690)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.6%(2,195)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846%(1,129)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(431)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$56,861
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,632 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$27,294
+65%since 2000
from $16,554 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.9%
+11.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
9.1%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade24.4%
US avg: 10%
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing1.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$151,900
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$719
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $422 in 2000
US average: $1,124
75.5%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
24.5% rent
2.49 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.7
+7%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-Hispanic97.8%(17,739)
Black0.2%(33)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(93)
Asian0.6%(117)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(17,657)
Black0.5%(102)
Hispanic / Latino2%(383)
Asian0.6%(123)
Other1.4%(272)
26
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
Mexican1.5%(293)
Peruvian0.2%(47)
Cuban0.2%(36)
Puerto Rican0.1%(23)
Guatemalan0.1%(17)
Spaniard0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(103)
Japanese0.4%(71)
Chinese0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German37%(7,123)
American14.9%(2,865)
Irish8.4%(1,612)
French6.7%(1,281)
English4.8%(922)
Scottish1.5%(288)
Italian1.4%(278)
Polish1.1%(215)
Belgian0.4%(74)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(72)
Dutch0.3%(51)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.2%(43)
Russian0.2%(41)
Norwegian0.2%(39)
Romanian0.2%(35)
Swedish0.2%(34)
British0.1%(27)
Croatian0.1%(26)
Czech0.1%(25)
Finnish0.1%(22)
Canadian0.1%(21)
Austrian0.1%(16)
Hungarian0.1%(12)
Swiss0%(9)
Greek0%(4)
Section 05

Education

19.1%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.6%
+15.4 ptssince 2000
from 71.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.5 min
+32%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
88.1%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
4.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
63.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
77.6%
US average: 73.3%
32.0%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
51.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
6.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 9.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.7%
US average: 91.9%
86.9%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.3%(2,559)
Married51.2%(3,930)
Widowed3.8%(294)
Divorced11.6%(892)
Women 15+
Never married24.1%(1,912)
Married53.9%(4,274)
Widowed11.3%(900)
Divorced10.7%(847)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

6.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 9.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
62.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
15.1%
US average: 13.7%
22.8%
US average: 17.6%
13.2%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
75.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
32.9%
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)27.7%(360)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19%(247)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era31.8%(413)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War10.5%(136)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.5%(6)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,299 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Perry County, Missouri?

Perry County, Missouri has about 18,956 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Perry County, Missouri earns about $56,861 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Perry County, Missouri expensive?

In Perry County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $151,900, and the typical rent is about $719 a month.

How educated are people in Perry County, Missouri?

About 19.1% of adults age 25 and over in Perry County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Perry County, Missouri?

About 9.1% of people in Perry County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Perry County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Perry County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,308 residents, a change of about 14 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 →