City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Wardell, MO

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

455
Residents
$48,500
Median income
$51,300
Median home
$888
Median rent (state)

Wardell - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Wardell places in the 17th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

17th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Wardell, MO

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 455 residents in Wardell, a small town within Missouri. Wardell households earn a median of $48,500 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.6%. Wardell's housing stock carries a median value of $51,300, and the median resident age is 45.5 years. About 16.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 43.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits).

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Missouri at 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $888 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $219 across Missouri, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 78.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

455 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$48,500 /yr

Poverty 26.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Wardell compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Missouri-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Wardell near the bottom of Missouri's cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Wardell ranks #569 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wardell only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#526 of 842
38th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#569 of 875
0th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#786 of 833
6th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#93 of 875
89th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#415 of 875
52nd 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.

17thIncome percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wardell's home value compares nationally

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

$51,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Wardell $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 - Wardell, MO Wardell, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wardell, 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 Wardell, MO median $48,500/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%
Wardell, 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 Wardell, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 43.7%

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

Population
455
Median Income
$48,500
Median Home Value
$51,300
Median Age
45.5
Poverty Rate
26.6%
Labor force participation
43.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.3%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
280 residents290 residents300 residents310 residents 202020212022202320242025 307 residents 283 residents ▼ -7.8%
Wardell's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.0%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.7%

Based on 162 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 Wardell sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$888/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
78.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Eminence
456 people
Novinger
454 people
Otterville
454 people
Branson West
453 people
Crystal Lakes
460 people
Greenville
462 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wardell's 455 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

German Valley, IL
455 people
Moran, KS
455 people
Ghent, MN
455 people
Millingport, NC
455 people
Weston, PA
455 people
Willow Lake, SD
455 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wardell's $48,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Leachville, AR
$48,500 median income
New Douglas, IL
$48,500 median income
Cromwell, IN
$48,500 median income
Oxford, IN
$48,500 median income
Boswell, PA
$48,500 median income
The Escape, PA
$48,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wardell, 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 Wardell, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.7% 7.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 91.7% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 7.7% 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 Wardell 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
Wardell (this city) 455 $48,500
Eminence 456 $30,000
Novinger 454 $44,063
Otterville 454 $48,281
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wardell, MO?

What is the population of Wardell, MO? +

455 people live in Wardell, MO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Wardell, the typical household earns $48,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wardell? +

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

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

The median home value in Wardell is $51,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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