City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Arnold, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Arnold - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

20,884
Residents
$75,194
Median income
$209,700
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Arnold - the verdict

Nationally, Arnold sits in the 56th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

56th
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
38th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Arnold, MO

Missouri's Arnold is a small city, with 20,884 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Arnold households earn a median of $75,194 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Home values in Arnold run a median of $209,700, and the median resident age is 39.9 years. 24.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 19 residential building permits were authorized in Arnold (Construction Slowdown), down 37% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Missouri scores 90.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,218 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $219 across Missouri, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.3 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

20,884 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$75,194 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Arnold compare to other US cities?

Where Arnold sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 38% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Arnold's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Missouri, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

56thIncome percentile

56th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Arnold's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$209,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Arnold $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Arnold, MO Arnold, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Arnold, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Arnold, MO median $75,194/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Arnold, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Arnold, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
20,884
Median Income
$75,194
Median Home Value
$209,700
Median Age
39.9
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
62.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.0%

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,800 residents20,900 residents21,000 residents21,100 residents21,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,907 residents 20,994 residents ▲ +0.4%
Arnold's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
19
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 30
2020 40
2021 23
2022 92
2023 16
2024 19

Permit volume decreased 37% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.3%
Carpool
5.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
8.1%

Based on 10,731 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Arnold sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,218/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Old Jamestown
21,121 people
Rolla
20,144 people
Affton
20,035 people
Sedalia
21,869 people
Ozark
21,953 people
Warrensburg
19,437 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Arnold's 20,884 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Park Forest, IL
20,898 people
Arbutus, MD
20,869 people
Hyattsville, MD
20,861 people
Mill Creek, WA
20,846 people
Rosedale, MD
20,845 people
Murrysville, PA
20,839 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Arnold's $75,194 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Laguna Beach, FL
$75,194 median income
La Prairie, MN
$75,192 median income
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), TN
$75,197 median income
Boone, CO
$75,190 median income
Harvey, MI
$75,188 median income
Pamelia Center, NY
$75,200 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Arnold, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Arnold, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.9% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.2% White 90.9% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 1.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Arnold compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Arnold (this city) 20,884 $75,194
Old Jamestown 21,121 $107,250
Rolla 20,144 $42,518
Affton 20,035 $77,337
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Arnold, MO?

What is the population of Arnold, MO? +

Arnold, MO counts 20,884 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Arnold, MO? +

Arnold households earn a median of $75,194 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Arnold? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Arnold; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Arnold, MO? +

Arnold's median home value sits at $209,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.