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MICROPOLITAN AREA

West Plains Micro

West Plains, MO · 1 counties · 40,798 residents (2025 est.) · 927.177 sq mi
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The short version

West Plains has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,993. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% 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 $173,000. The poverty rate of 20.3% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
40,383
+8%since 2000
from 37,238 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
44 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 40 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.3
+5%since 2000
from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,798 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
31K33K36K39K41K1990201020202024West Plains
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,993
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,628 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,570
+98%since 2000
from $13,959 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.4%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+11%since 2010
from 0.414 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$173,000
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$733
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
29.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+31%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
37
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Plains 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%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(36,940)
Black0.5%(194)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(1,042)
Asian0.4%(177)
Other5%(2,030)
Diversity Score20%(8,077)
Segregation Score16.6%(6,707)
Diversity Score
20
+325%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
17
−33%since 2020
from 25 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.8%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.9%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.1 min
+73%since 2000
from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.6%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.1%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% 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
6.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 54.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.5%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% 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
19.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.7%
−72.8 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.6%
+20.8 ptssince 2017
from 64.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

West PlainsCENTRAL12,780
What's inside

1 component county

Howell CountyCENTRAL40,798
Drill deeper

Metros similar to West Plains

Henderson
Pop 42,638
Mayfield
Pop 37,050
Alice
Pop 45,383
Blytheville
Pop 37,828
Places similar to West Plains
Head to head

Compare West Plains side by side

WEST PLAINS VS
Henderson
Income$50,465−1%
Home value$161,500−7%
Population42,638+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST PLAINS VS
Mayfield
Income$50,772same
Home value$147,800−15%
Population37,050−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST PLAINS VS
Alice
Income$51,270+1%
Home value$117,141−32%
Population45,383+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST PLAINS VS
Blytheville
Income$52,548+3%
Home value$122,500−29%
Population37,828−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in West Plains, MO?

West Plains, MO has about 40,383 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Plains, MO?

The typical household in West Plains, MO earns about $50,993 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Plains, MO expensive?

In West Plains, MO, the median home is worth about $173,000, and the typical rent is about $733 a month.

How educated are people in West Plains, MO?

About 17.8% of adults age 25 and over in West Plains, MO hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Plains, MO?

About 20.3% of people in West Plains, MO live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Plains, MO grown since 1990?

Yes, West Plains, MO has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,936 residents, a change of about 28 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 →