City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Kirkwood, MO

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

29,302
Residents
$117,439
Median income
$421,500
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Kirkwood - the verdict

Kirkwood ranks in the 86th percentile for household income and the 42nd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

86th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
38th
percentile, median rent
42nd
percentile, safety
📝 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: Kirkwood, MO

29,302 people live in Kirkwood, Missouri - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Kirkwood brings in $117,439 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Kirkwood's housing stock carries a median value of $421,500, and the median resident age is 42.5 years. 66.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 54 residential building permits were authorized in Kirkwood (Construction Slowdown), down 26% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Kirkwood reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1609.3 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,218 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $219 across Missouri, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 17.1 minutes, with 70.8% driving alone and 21.1% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

29,302 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$117,439 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Kirkwood compare to other US cities?

Kirkwood measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 38% pricier than other cities
Safety 42% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Missouri and the picture shifts: Kirkwood ranks #131 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Kirkwood against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Missouri only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Missouri-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Kirkwood's strongest outlier among Missouri cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Kirkwood ranks #22 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Kirkwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#44 of 842
95th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#108 of 875
69th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#32 of 833
96th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#698 of 875
19th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#22 of 875
97th percentile in Missouri

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Missouri only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

86thIncome percentile
42ndSafety percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income · 42nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kirkwood's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kirkwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 57 Avg. percentile National median
Kirkwood's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Kirkwood's home value compares nationally

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

$421,500 21st percentile more affordable than 21% 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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Kirkwood $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 - Kirkwood, MO Kirkwood, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, MO median $117,439/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%
Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 66.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.5%

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

Population
29,302
Median Income
$117,439
Median Home Value
$421,500
Median Age
42.5
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
61.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
66.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1609.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
213.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1396.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
29,200 residents29,300 residents29,400 residents29,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 29,453 residents 29,331 residents ▼ -0.4%
Kirkwood's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
54
housing units authorized
Single-Family
54
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 73
2020 75
2021 96
2022 56
2023 40
2024 54

Permit volume decreased 26% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.1 minutes
Drive Alone
70.8%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
21.1%
Other
1.2%

Based on 14,006 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 Kirkwood 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

Mehlville
29,089 people
Raytown
29,593 people
Liberty
30,446 people
Maryland Heights
27,981 people
Ballwin
30,835 people
Gladstone
27,069 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kirkwood's 29,302 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jacksonville, AR
29,285 people
Harrison, NY
29,279 people
Fountain, CO
29,327 people
Englewood, NJ
29,342 people
Texarkana, AR
29,343 people
Fleming Island, FL
29,351 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kirkwood's $117,439 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brookhaven, GA
$117,448 median income
Gilbertsville, PA
$117,426 median income
Heritage Lake, IL
$117,422 median income
McAdenville, NC
$117,411 median income
Bigelow Corners, CT
$117,396 median income
Blue Jay, OH
$117,391 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.3% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.0% White 82.3% Black or African American 5.0% Asian 1.9% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 9.6% 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 Kirkwood 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
Kirkwood (this city) 29,302 $117,439
Mehlville 29,089 $65,395
Raytown 29,593 $67,227
Liberty 30,446 $95,425
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kirkwood, MO?

What is the population of Kirkwood, MO? +

The population of Kirkwood, MO stands at 29,302 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Kirkwood runs $117,439, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kirkwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kirkwood; 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.

Is Kirkwood, MO safe? +

Kirkwood has a total crime rate of 1609.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Kirkwood's median home value sits at $421,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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

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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.