City · Missouri
Festus, Missouri
Festus, city, in Jefferson County, Missouri. Festus had 14,066 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 10.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,706 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 13,201 (±30). GEOID 2924094.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
14,066
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,706 · ACS 2020-2024: 13,201 ±30
Median household income
$73,532
±$7,682 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$223,600
±$12,860 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$922
±$36 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Festus and what county is it in?
Festus is a city in Jefferson County, Missouri. It covers 5.9 square miles of land, 2,152 residents per square mile in 2020.
Festus is in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 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 Festus, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 14,066 people lived in Festus on July 1, 2025, up 10.2% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 12,706 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 13,201 (±30).
| Measure | Festus | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,201 ±30 | 229,458 | +1,219 |
| Households | 5,091 ±340 | 88,309 | +477 |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.17 | 2.58 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,539 ±355 | 93,955 | no clear change |
Festus's population since 2000
From 9,660 in 2000 to 14,066 in 2025: up 45.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Festus 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 Festus?
The median resident of Festus is 36.7 years old; 27.8% are under 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.3%.
| Measure | Festus | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 ±1.7 | 40.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.8% ±3.1 pts | 22.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.8% ±2.6 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 50.5% ±3.7 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% ±2.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.1% ±4.2 pts | 88.5% | −7.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±2.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±3.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.6% ±0.9 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.7% ±2.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 15.0% ±3.3 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4% ±3.1 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.7% ±4.4 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.4% ±6.4 pts | 24.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.7% ±4.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.0% ±4.5 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±1.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Festus earn?
Half of Festus's 5,091 households earn less than $73,532 a year (±$7,682), against $82,851 in Jefferson County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $67,979 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Festus | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,532 ±$7,682 | $82,851 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $86,606 ±$12,535 | $98,813 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,346 ±$4,552 | $39,160 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 17.1% ±5.2 pts | 9.0% | +9.4 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.4% ±8.4 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.2% ±3.9 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.1% ±3.2 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.5% ±4.8 pts | 91.7% | – |
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 Festus?
Owners occupy 57.8% of Festus's occupied homes and renters 42.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $223,600 by its owner (±$12,860). The median renter pays $922 a month including utilities, and 19.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Festus | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $223,600 ±$12,860 | $237,200 | +$54,872 |
| Median gross rent | $922 ±$36 | $979 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 19.8% ±8.0 pts | 29.7% | −17.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,395 ±$114 | $1,545 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.8% ±7.2 pts | 82.2% | −8.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.2% ±7.2 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Housing units | 5,539 ±355 | 93,955 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.7% ±4.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.7% ±6.1 pts | 79.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% ±3.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.9% ±2.1 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.4% ±3.5 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.5% ±3.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.1% ±2.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
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 Festus building?
Builders took permits for 34 new housing units in Festus in 2025 (34 in single-family houses), 2.4 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 Festus work and get to work?
83.3% of Festus's workers drive alone and 8.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.6%.
| Measure | Festus | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.6% ±5.1 pts | 66.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% ±3.4 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 83.3% ±3.9 pts | 79.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.6% ±2.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±1.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.5% ±2.7 pts | 11.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.4 min ±2.9 | 30.6 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 Festus?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Festus, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $71,655 (Tract 7009) to $82,599 (Tract 7008.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7008.01Jefferson County | 6,069 | $82,599 |
| Tract 7009Jefferson County | 6,364 | $71,655 |
| Tract 7008.02Jefferson County | 5,775 | $86,318 |
| Tract 7014.04Jefferson County | 5,966 | $92,083 |
| Tract 7006.05Jefferson County | 6,744 | $78,568 |
| Tract 7007Jefferson County | 4,453 | $66,172 |
| Tract 7010.01Jefferson County | 4,775 | $76,515 |
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 Festus) · Census block assignment files
How does Festus compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Festus is the 2,517th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 57th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Festus ranks 107th 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 | 57th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 30th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 71st | 420 |
| Median household income | 107th | 416 |
| Per capita income | 146th | 420 |
| Median home value | 98th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 168th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 162nd | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 153rd | 404 |
| Median age | 270th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 315th | 418 |
| Work from home | 177th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 111th | 420 |
Festus's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Festus 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 Festus?
10 of the 57 figures for Festus 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 Festus 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 Festus.