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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2000 CENSUS

West Plains Micro

West Plains, MO · 1 counties · 37,238 residents · 927 sq mi
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The short version

West Plains is a metro area of 37,238 people. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 1990, reaching $66,300. Households take in $25,628 at the median, 40% less than the US figure. Median rent is $350 a month. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

37,238
+18%since 1990
from 31,447 in 1990
1990 – 2025
40 / sq mi
+18%since 1990
from 34 / sq mi in 1990
38.2
+5%since 1990
from 36.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
927 sq mi
Population, 19902024
31K33K36K39K41K19902000201020202024West Plains
202440K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.7%(2,500)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97%(2,609)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.5%(2,811)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.4%(2,774)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.1%(1,885)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.8%(4,401)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.4%(5,352)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412.7%(4,742)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6410.5%(3,916)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748.8%(3,294)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.8%(2,146)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.2%(808)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$25,628
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $16,564 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$13,959
+59%since 1990
from $8,776 in 1990
US average: $21,522
18.7%
−6.7 ptssince 1990
from 25.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$66,300
+38%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $36,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$350
+9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $243 in 1990
US average: $602
73.6%
−0.2 ptssince 1990
from 73.8% in 1990
26.4% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic98.9%(31,111)
Black0%(14)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(158)
Asian0.1%(20)
2000
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(35,623)
Black0.3%(114)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(450)
Asian0.3%(130)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(561)
Spaniard0.3%(124)
Guatemalan0.1%(58)
Cuban0.1%(44)
Panamanian0.1%(25)
Bolivian0%(17)
Argentine0%(15)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(58)
Chinese0.1%(52)
Filipino0.1%(36)
Asian Indian0.1%(34)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(22)
Ancestry
English15.1%(6,085)
German13.6%(5,479)
Irish12.1%(4,890)
American9%(3,637)
Italian2.3%(926)
French2%(790)
Norwegian1.4%(565)
Dutch1.4%(562)
Ukrainian1.3%(528)
Welsh1.1%(454)
Scottish1.1%(449)
Polish1%(424)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.9%(368)
Swedish0.5%(199)
Armenian0.2%(83)
British0.2%(64)
Hungarian0.2%(62)
Lithuanian0.1%(57)
Finnish0.1%(54)
Danish0.1%(51)
Canadian0.1%(48)
Swiss0.1%(48)
Austrian0.1%(42)
Croatian0.1%(38)
Russian0.1%(32)
Portuguese0.1%(27)
Czech0.1%(23)
Slovak0%(16)
Greek0%(13)
Belgian0%(7)
Section 05

Education

10.9%
+2.2 ptssince 1990
from 8.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
73.4%
+12.2 ptssince 1990
from 61.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.1%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 3.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.4 min
−36%since 1990
from 20.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married19%(2,625)
Married68.8%(9,509)
Widowed2.8%(382)
Divorced9.5%(1,314)
Women 15+
Never married13.3%(2,069)
Married63.5%(9,858)
Widowed13.3%(2,062)
Divorced9.8%(1,528)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

11.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
38.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 40.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
23.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 23.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
28.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2020
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
53.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 53.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
49.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2020
from 43.8% 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)24%(674)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.9%(644)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.9%(896)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.8%(190)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.1%(4)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,808 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.

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Frequently asked

How many people live in West Plains, MO?

West Plains, MO has about 37,238 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in West Plains, MO earns about $25,628 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 $66,300, and the typical rent is about $350 a month.

How educated are people in West Plains, MO?

About 10.9% 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 18.7% 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 5,791 residents, a change of about 18 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 →