City · Missouri
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, city, in Jasper County, Missouri. Carthage had 15,895 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 15,522 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,574 (±30). GEOID 2911656.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
15,895
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,522 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,574 ±30
Median household income
$51,328
±$4,694 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$146,800
±$9,480 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$975
±$69 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Carthage and what county is it in?
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri. It covers 12.1 square miles of land, 1,283 residents per square mile in 2020.
Carthage is in the Joplin, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Carthage, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 15,895 people lived in Carthage on July 1, 2025, up 2.1% since 2020, in line with Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 15,522 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,574 (±30).
| Measure | Carthage | Jasper County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,574 ±30 | 124,357 | +866 |
| Households | 5,732 ±353 | 49,489 | +698 |
| Average household size | 2.63 ±0.16 | 2.47 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,459 ±413 | 54,480 | +849 |
Carthage's population since 2000
From 12,668 in 2000 to 15,895 in 2025: up 25.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Carthage as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Carthage?
The median resident of Carthage is 32.2 years old; 32.3% are under 18 and 13.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 59.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 34.5%. 12.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Carthage | Jasper County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 ±4.1 | 36.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 32.3% ±3.0 pts | 24.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.2% ±2.0 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Male | 45.6% ±2.3 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 34.5% ±3.6 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 59.7% ±4.2 pts | 80.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.1 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±1.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 12.6% ±2.1 pts | 3.9% | −3.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 26.3% ±4.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.0% ±2.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 15.0% ±2.5 pts | 17.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.5% ±3.7 pts | 12.0% | −7.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 74.4% ±4.7 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.1% ±4.0 pts | 25.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.5% ±2.7 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.8% ±4.5 pts | 85.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Carthage earn?
Half of Carthage's 5,732 households earn less than $51,328 a year (±$4,694), against $60,694 in Jasper County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $50,737 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carthage | Jasper County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,328 ±$4,694 | $60,694 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $68,322 ±$10,845 | $79,727 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,235 ±$4,276 | $31,916 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.2% ±8.6 pts | 17.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 36.1% ±14.7 pts | 22.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 25.5% ±6.9 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.7% ±2.2 pts | 95.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.9% ±4.3 pts | 88.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Carthage?
Owners occupy 53.0% of Carthage's occupied homes and renters 47.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $146,800 by its owner (±$9,480). The median renter pays $975 a month including utilities, and 52.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Carthage | Jasper County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $146,800 ±$9,480 | $166,900 | +$37,761 |
| Median gross rent | $975 ±$69 | $973 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.0% ±10.9 pts | 39.8% | +17.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,199 ±$63 | $1,219 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.0% ±6.4 pts | 62.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 47.0% ±6.4 pts | 37.2% | – |
| Housing units | 6,459 ±413 | 54,480 | +849 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5% ±3.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.2% ±4.3 pts | 75.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±1.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.3% ±2.6 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.5% ±2.1 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.7% ±3.7 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.6% ±3.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Carthage building?
Builders took permits for 51 new housing units in Carthage in 2025 (29 in single-family houses), 3.2 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Carthage work and get to work?
78.8% of Carthage's workers drive alone and 6.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.
| Measure | Carthage | Jasper County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.4% ±3.7 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% ±1.6 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.8% ±4.7 pts | 80.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.3% ±4.0 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.8% ±1.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.5% ±2.9 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.5 min ±1.6 | 19.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Carthage?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Carthage, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $51,368 (Tract 116) to $60,054 (Tract 118).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 117Jasper County | 7,065 | $56,065 |
| Tract 118Jasper County | 5,526 | $60,054 |
| Tract 116Jasper County | 5,043 | $51,368 |
| Tract 119Jasper County | 4,453 | $72,063 |
| Tract 122.02Jasper County | 3,202 | $65,625 |
| Tract 120Jasper County | 5,884 | $69,922 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Carthage) · Census block assignment files
How does Carthage compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Carthage is the 2,316th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 51st-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Carthage ranks 282nd of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 51st | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 169th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 141st | 420 |
| Median household income | 282nd | 416 |
| Per capita income | 317th | 420 |
| Median home value | 243rd | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 144th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 173rd | 404 |
| Median age | 375th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 358th | 418 |
| Work from home | 216th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 395th | 420 |
Carthage's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Carthage with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Carthage?
10 of the 57 figures for Carthage on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Carthage are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Carthage.