City · Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, city, in Clay County, Missouri. Liberty had 31,319 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 30,167 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 30,689 (±46). GEOID 2942032.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
31,319
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,167 · ACS 2020-2024: 30,689 ±46
Median household income
$88,542
±$9,001 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$283,300
±$9,934 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$1,160
±$103 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Liberty and what county is it in?
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri. It covers 29.7 square miles of land, 1,017 residents per square mile in 2020.
Liberty is in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 14 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 Liberty, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 31,319 people lived in Liberty on July 1, 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 30,167 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 30,689 (±46).
| Measure | Liberty | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 30,689 ±46 | 258,122 | −639 |
| Households | 11,568 ±343 | 102,171 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.07 | 2.50 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 12,085 ±383 | 107,719 | no clear change |
Liberty's population since 2000
From 26,232 in 2000 to 31,319 in 2025: up 19.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Liberty 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 Liberty?
The median resident of Liberty is 37.8 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 15.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 5.0%. 2.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Liberty | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 ±1.7 | 37.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±1.9 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.9% ±1.0 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Male | 50.4% ±1.7 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.0% ±1.7 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.7% ±2.6 pts | 77.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±1.4 pts | 6.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.7 pts | 2.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±1.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.5% ±1.0 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.3% ±0.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.9% ±1.1 pts | 7.1% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±1.7 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.8% ±1.3 pts | 7.6% | −2.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.9% ±1.0 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 39.6% ±2.8 pts | 36.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.3% ±1.8 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.1% ±3.2 pts | 87.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.7 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 Liberty earn?
Half of Liberty's 11,568 households earn less than $88,542 a year (±$9,001), against $88,468 in Clay County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $94,243 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Liberty | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $88,542 ±$9,001 | $88,468 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $103,849 ±$5,297 | $108,962 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,242 ±$2,153 | $43,986 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.0% ±1.6 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.0% ±2.3 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7% ±1.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±1.6 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.3% ±2.0 pts | 91.2% | – |
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 Liberty?
Owners occupy 73.0% of Liberty's occupied homes and renters 27.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $283,300 by its owner (±$9,934). The median renter pays $1,160 a month including utilities, and 39.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Liberty | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $283,300 ±$9,934 | $275,600 | +$59,314 |
| Median gross rent | $1,160 ±$103 | $1,243 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.0% ±7.4 pts | 36.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,869 ±$68 | $1,757 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.0% ±3.1 pts | 69.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 27.0% ±3.1 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Housing units | 12,085 ±383 | 107,719 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2% ±2.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.4% ±2.6 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% ±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.2% ±1.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.6% ±1.3 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.8% ±1.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.9% ±1.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
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 Liberty building?
Builders took permits for 69 new housing units in Liberty in 2025 (67 in single-family houses), 2.2 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 Liberty work and get to work?
77.4% of Liberty's workers drive alone and 15.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.
| Measure | Liberty | Clay County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.6% ±2.4 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±1.1 pts | 3.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 77.4% ±2.7 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.7% ±1.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.9% ±2.5 pts | 15.9% | +10.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.9 min ±1.4 | 22.8 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 Liberty?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Liberty, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $62,798 (Tract 208.02) to $119,211 (Tract 223.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 214.04Clay County | 5,378 | $77,415 |
| Tract 223.02Clay County | 5,817 | $119,211 |
| Tract 216.01Clay County | 4,665 | $117,246 |
| Tract 214.01Clay County | 4,455 | $99,141 |
| Tract 223.01Clay County | 3,328 | $81,579 |
| Tract 214.03Clay County | 2,565 | $68,281 |
| Tract 208.02Clay County | 2,907 | $62,798 |
| Tract 218.08Clay County | 4,342 | $168,689 |
| Tract 216.02Clay County | 3,601 | $97,699 |
| Tract 213.09Clay County | 5,589 | $183,989 |
| Tract 218.11Clay County | 4,017 | $136,806 |
| Tract 218.07Clay County | 4,085 | $117,188 |
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 Liberty) · Census block assignment files
How does Liberty compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Liberty is the 1,318th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 20th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Liberty ranks 70th 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 | 20th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 116th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 227th | 420 |
| Median household income | 70th | 416 |
| Per capita income | 79th | 420 |
| Median home value | 60th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 74th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 315th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59th | 404 |
| Median age | 238th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 146th | 418 |
| Work from home | 72nd | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 195th | 420 |
Liberty's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Liberty 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 Liberty?
6 of the 57 figures for Liberty 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 Liberty 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 Liberty.