COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Ripley County

Missouri · 12,303 residents · 630 sq mi

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The short version

Ripley County is home to 12,303 people in Missouri. 31.5% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 48% less than in Missouri as a whole. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 20% national rate. Median home value sits at $29,100. Median household income is $13,740, under the $30,130 national median.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 37.0

US median: 33.0

Less educated

6% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 18%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

12,303

−9%vs 2000

vs 13,509 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

37.0

−6%vs 2000

vs 39.4 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

630 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202411K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 56.8%(832)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 96.8%(838)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 148.5%(1,045)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 197.4%(909)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 245.3%(646)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3412.7%(1,561)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4411.9%(1,461)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5410.9%(1,336)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6411.4%(1,397)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7410.1%(1,243)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 846.6%(808)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1.8%(227)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$13,740

−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $22,761 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$7,295

−43%vs 2000

vs $12,889 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

31.5%

+9.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 22.0% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$29,100

−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $46,500 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$241

+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $306 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

75.7%

−2.2 ptsvs 2000

vs 77.9% in 2000

24.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic96.4%(13,019)

Black0%(5)

Hispanic / Latino1%(132)

Asian0.2%(30)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.2%(12,203)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino0.4%(47)

Asian0.2%(19)

Other0.7%(81)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican1%(104)

South American0.4%(47)

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)

Austrian0%(5)

French Canadian0%(4)

Subsaharan African0%(1)

Nigerian0%(1)

RANKED:Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest French population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

6.1%

−1.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.8% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

48.5%

−13.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 62.1% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

3.0%

−0.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 3.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

23.0 min

+27%vs 2000

vs 18.1 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

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

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

15.6%

−2.6 ptssince 2013

from 18.2% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

33.9%

−2.0 ptssince 2020

from 35.9% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

15.3%

+1.0 ptssince 2020

from 14.3% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

24.7%

−1.6 ptssince 2020

from 26.3% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

27.9%

+0.2 ptssince 2020

from 27.7% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

5.5%

+0.3 ptssince 2020

from 5.2% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

48.1%

−1.9 ptssince 2020

from 50.0% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

49.1%

−0.1 ptssince 2020

from 49.2% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

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, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)15.3%(114)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)17.1%(127)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era46%(342)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0.5%(4)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 744 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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