City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Knob Noster, MO

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

2,824
Residents
$60,294
Median income
$146,700
Median home
$965
Median rent (state)

Knob Noster - the verdict

Nationally, Knob Noster sits in the 36th percentile for household income and the 97th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

36th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
97th
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: Knob Noster, MO

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,824 residents in Knob Noster, a small town within Missouri. Knob Noster households earn a median of $60,294 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.2%. Typical homes in Knob Noster are valued around $146,700, and the median resident age is 31.0 years. About 25.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 21 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 110% from five years earlier. Knob Noster reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 136.6 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 $965 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Missouri run around $219, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 54.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

2,824 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$60,294 /yr

Poverty 12.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Knob Noster compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 36% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 97% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Missouri, Knob Noster ranks #5 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Knob Noster 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 places Knob Noster toward the top of Missouri's cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Knob Noster ranks #206 - the 76th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Knob Noster only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#308 of 842
63rd percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#367 of 875
57th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#310 of 833
63rd percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#347 of 875
60th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#206 of 875
76th 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.

36thIncome percentile
97thSafety percentile

36th percentile nationally for median household income · 97th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Knob Noster's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Knob Noster'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 71 Avg. percentile National median
Knob Noster'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 Knob Noster's home value compares nationally

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

$146,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Knob Noster $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 - Knob Noster, MO Knob Noster, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Knob Noster, 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 Knob Noster, MO median $60,294/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%
Knob Noster, 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 Knob Noster, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.4%

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

Population
2,824
Median Income
$60,294
Median Home Value
$146,700
Median Age
31.0
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Labor force participation
47.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
136.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
136.6
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
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,700 residents2,800 residents2,900 residents3,000 residents3,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,756 residents 2,997 residents ▲ +8.7%
Knob Noster's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
21
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 10
2020 11
2021 13
2022 14
2023 11
2024 21

Permit volume increased 110% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.4%
Carpool
14.8%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.2%

Based on 1,517 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 Knob Noster sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$965/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.9 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Licking
2,816 people
Montgomery City
2,810 people
Moline Acres
2,806 people
Gray Summit
2,847 people
Fayette
2,800 people
Owensville
2,798 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Knob Noster's 2,824 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Belle Meade, TN
2,824 people
Kewaunee, WI
2,824 people
East Sonora, CA
2,823 people
Donalsonville, GA
2,823 people
Holualoa, HI
2,825 people
Marengo, IA
2,823 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Knob Noster's $60,294 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fort Wayne, IN
$60,293 median income
Bellefontaine, OH
$60,296 median income
Kendall, WA
$60,291 median income
Mingo Junction, OH
$60,288 median income
Kersey, PA
$60,288 median income
Washburn, WI
$60,288 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Knob Noster, 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 Knob Noster, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.5% 9.1% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 76.5% Black or African American 9.1% Asian 4.5% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 1.4% Some other race 0.6% 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 Knob Noster 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
Knob Noster (this city) 2,824 $60,294
Licking 2,816 $32,813
Montgomery City 2,810 $51,707
Moline Acres 2,806 $55,069
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Knob Noster, MO?

What is the population of Knob Noster, MO? +

Knob Noster, MO has a population of 2,824 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Knob Noster, MO? +

The median household income in Knob Noster is $60,294 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Knob Noster? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Knob Noster; 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 Knob Noster, MO safe? +

Knob Noster has a total crime rate of 136.6 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 Knob Noster, MO? +

Homes in Knob Noster carry a median value of $146,700, 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.