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COUNTY

Ripley County

Missouri · 10,717 residents (2025 est.) · 629.516 sq mi
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The short version

Ripley County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,037. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 2,801 residents. 13% 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 $119,600. The poverty rate of 24.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,708
−21%since 2000
from 13,509 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
−21%since 2009
from 21 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+3%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,717 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K11K12K13K14K1990201020202024Ripley County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(705)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(680)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.2%(776)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.1%(651)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(504)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.4%(1,222)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(1,237)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(1,269)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(1,530)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.5%(1,233)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.9%(740)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(161)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,037
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,761 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,674
+76%since 2000
from $12,889 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.5%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 22.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
+9%since 2010
from 0.405 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Information9%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical8.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,600
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$654
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $306 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
20.9% rent
Vacancy rate
22.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.0%
+15.6 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+26%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
28
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ripley County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(13,019)
Black0%(5)
Hispanic / Latino1%(132)
Asian0.2%(30)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(9,898)
Black0.3%(34)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(157)
Asian0.3%(30)
Other5.5%(589)
Diversity Score
18
+55%since 2009
from 11 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
+64%since 2020
from 15 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%(104)
Colombian0.3%(35)
Ecuadorian0.1%(12)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(22)
Japanese0.1%(8)
Ancestry
American15%(1,603)
German13.5%(1,444)
Irish11.4%(1,221)
English11%(1,173)
French2.1%(230)
Polish2.1%(223)
Dutch1.2%(128)
Scottish1%(111)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(90)
Welsh0.8%(82)
Italian0.6%(66)
Norwegian0.3%(30)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.2%(17)
West Indian0.1%(13)
British0.1%(11)
Canadian0.1%(11)
Swiss0.1%(8)
Finnish0.1%(6)
Swedish0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.6%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.6%
+20.4 ptssince 2000
from 62.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
34.8 min
+92%since 2000
from 18.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.7%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% 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
7.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−10.3 ptssince 2011
from 14.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.1%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.2%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.1% 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
26.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 24.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.6%
−66.2 ptssince 2013
from 81.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.2%
+18.9 ptssince 2017
from 64.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.3%(1,251)
Married54.8%(2,341)
Widowed3.2%(137)
Divorced12.6%(540)
Women 15+
Never married21.9%(937)
Married50.4%(2,156)
Widowed12.9%(551)
Divorced14.8%(634)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Ripley County to nearby counties

RIPLEY COUNTY VS
Carter County
Income$50,000+19%
Home value$159,400+33%
Population5,418−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIPLEY COUNTY VS
Randolph County
Income$50,911+21%
Home value$130,600+9%
Population18,876+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIPLEY COUNTY VS
Butler County
Income$49,089+17%
Home value$145,100+21%
Population41,904+291%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIPLEY COUNTY VS
Oregon County
Income$43,069+2%
Home value$113,300−5%
Population8,709−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ripley County, Missouri?

Ripley County, Missouri has about 10,708 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Ripley County, Missouri earns about $42,037 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ripley County, Missouri expensive?

In Ripley County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $119,600, and the typical rent is about $654 a month.

How educated are people in Ripley County, Missouri?

About 12.6% of adults age 25 and over in Ripley County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ripley County, Missouri?

About 24.8% of people in Ripley County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ripley County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Ripley County, Missouri has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,595 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 8703Census Tract 8701Census Tract 8702Census Tract 8704
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 63935ZIP 63939ZIP 63953ZIP 63942ZIP 63955
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →