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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Poplar Bluff Micro

Poplar Bluff, MO · 1 counties · 41,904 residents (2025 est.) · 694.756 sq mi
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The short version

Poplar Bluff has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,089. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% 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 $145,100. The poverty rate of 20.5% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
42,020
+3%since 2000
from 40,867 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
60 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 59 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+2%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:41,904 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
38K40K41K42K43K1990201020202024Poplar Bluff
202442K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,089
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,228 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,431
+74%since 2000
from $15,721 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.8%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+2%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$145,100
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$780
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
35.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+39%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
25
RELATED:See current rent listings in Poplar Bluff on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(37,435)
Black5.2%(2,105)
Hispanic / Latino1%(412)
Asian0.4%(176)
Other0%
Diversity Score15.9%(6,479)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.9%(36,091)
Black4.7%(1,978)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,035)
Asian0.4%(185)
Other6.5%(2,731)
Diversity Score31.9%(13,406)
Segregation Score23.1%(9,725)
Diversity Score
32
+101%since 2000
from 16 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
23
−34%since 2020
from 35 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+64%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% 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
8.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 57.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.4%
−33.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.9%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 22.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.0%
−72.3 ptssince 2013
from 85.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.4%
+17.9 ptssince 2017
from 66.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Poplar BluffCENTRAL16,295
What's inside

1 component county

Butler CountyCENTRAL41,904
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Poplar Bluff

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Pop 42,638
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POPLAR BLUFF VS
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Income$50,465+3%
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POPLAR BLUFF VS
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POPLAR BLUFF VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Poplar Bluff, MO?

Poplar Bluff, MO has about 42,020 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Poplar Bluff, MO?

The typical household in Poplar Bluff, MO earns about $49,089 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Poplar Bluff, MO expensive?

In Poplar Bluff, MO, the median home is worth about $145,100, and the typical rent is about $780 a month.

How educated are people in Poplar Bluff, MO?

About 15.8% of adults age 25 and over in Poplar Bluff, MO hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Poplar Bluff, MO?

About 20.5% of people in Poplar Bluff, MO live below the federal poverty line.

Has Poplar Bluff, MO grown since 1990?

Yes, Poplar Bluff, MO has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,255 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →