United States › West Plains MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS
West Plains Micro West Plains, MO · 1 counties · 39,750 residents · 927 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
West Plains is a metro area of 39,750 people. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $114,600. 1% of people across the metro were born outside the United States. The poverty rate is 23.8%, above the 12.8% national rate. Renters pay $605 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
31K 33K 36K 39K 41K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 West Plains Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $39,482
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,628 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $13,959 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.2%
Transportation & warehousing 3.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.7%
Education & health services 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
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$114,600
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$605
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 73.6% in 2000
32.8% rent
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.7%(35,623)
Hispanic / Latino 1.2%(450)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 90.5%(35,972)
Hispanic / Latino 2.3%(896)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 73.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 54.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.4%(4,577)
Women 15+
Never married 22.6%(3,801)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.8%(495)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.5%(583)
Share of the 3,340 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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In this metro
Largest cities What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
Metros similar to West Plains Head to head
Compare West Plains side by side WEST PLAINS VS
Henderson
Income $50,465 +28%
Home value $161,500 +41%
Population 42,638 +5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST PLAINS VS
Mayfield
Income $50,772 +29%
Home value $147,800 +29%
Population 37,050 −9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST PLAINS VS
Alice
Income $51,270 +30%
Home value $117,141 +2%
Population 45,383 +11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST PLAINS VS
Blytheville
Income $52,548 +33%
Home value $122,500 +7%
Population 37,828 −7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in West Plains, MO? West Plains, MO has about 39,750 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in West Plains, MO? The typical household in West Plains, MO earns about $39,482 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 $114,600, and the typical rent is about $605 a month.
How educated are people in West Plains, MO? About 17.3% 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 23.8% 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 8,303 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.
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