County · Missouri

Barton County, Missouri

Barton County, Missouri. Barton County had 11,795 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than Missouri (+1.9%). It holds 23 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs, 14 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 29011.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

11,795

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,637 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,690

Median household income

$51,635

±$5,457 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702

Median home value

$136,500

±$28,748 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300

Median gross rent

$805

±$58 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033

How many people live in Barton County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 11,637 residents in Barton County. The Census Bureau estimates 11,795 for July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 11,690 over 592 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +47 (11,671)
2021→2022 +22 (11,693)
2022→2023 +63 (11,756)
2023→2024 −6 (11,750)
2024→2025 +45 (11,795)

Barton County in Missouri. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Barton County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	11,690	6,191,814	−107
Households	4,454±213	2,508,227	−441
Average household size	2.60±0.12	2.40	+0.23
Housing units	5,285±26	2,825,287	−314

Barton County's population since 2000

From 12,541 in 2000 to 11,795 in 2025: down 5.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 12,541
2005 (estimate) 12,976
2010 Census 12,402
2015 (estimate) 11,834
2020 Census 11,637
2025 (estimate) 11,795

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Barton County?

Barton County holds 23 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 14 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Lamar with 4,337 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Barton County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Lamar	city	4,266	4,284±17	$36,705	$117,200	32.6%	100%
Lamar Township	township	1,389	1,524±377	$56,926	$206,000	14.7%	100%
Golden City Township	township	1,017	949±177	$50,833	$107,100	15.6%	100%
Ozark Township, Barton County	township	862	896±187	$64,750	$77,000	17.7%	100%
Golden City	city	656	708±163	$44,167	$79,300	18.9%	100%
Liberal	city	629	747±168	$65,250	$77,000	14.1%	100%
South West Township	township	563	763±151	$53,631	$168,100	17.4%	100%
Central TownshipGEOID 2901112736	township	521	340±123	$49,095	$158,200	12.4%	100%
Union Township, Barton CountyGEOID 2901174482	township	496	780±317	$72,348	$262,900	9.2%	100%
Richland Township, Barton CountyGEOID 2901161454	township	446	307±133	$80,815	$203,100	13.4%	100%
Newport TownshipGEOID 2901152238	township	392	486±173	not published	$314,500	11.3%	100%
Nashville TownshipGEOID 2901151248	township	358	302±177	$73,875	$403,300	5.3%	100%
Northfork TownshipGEOID 2901153048	township	301	235±120	$67,153	$268,800	0.0%	100%
Mindenmines	city	271	312±99	$22,292	$46,900	39.1%	100%
Barton City TownshipGEOID 2901103502	township	267	118±70	not published	not published	6.8%	100%
Milford TownshipGEOID 2901148116	township	267	116±79	not published	not published	3.4%	100%
Doylesport TownshipGEOID 2901120026	township	247	294±172	$57,014	not published	5.8%	100%
Leroy TownshipGEOID 2901141618	township	245	296±112	not published	$223,300	16.2%	100%
Lamar HeightsGEOID 2940430	city	170	111±69	not published	$260,700	26.1%	100%
IanthaGEOID 2934192	CDP	95	124±77	not published	not published	15.3%	100%
BurgessGEOID 2909802	CDP	54	24±22	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
IrwinGEOID 2935486	CDP	47	43±64	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
MilfordGEOID 2948098	village	24	54±54	not published	$329,200	1.9%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Barton County?

The median resident of Barton County is 41.1 years old; 23.4% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.9%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Barton County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.1±1.7	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	23.4%	22.3%	–
65 years and over	21.4%±0.3 pts	17.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.1%	5.2%	+1.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	89.9%±1.2 pts	76.3%	−2.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	10.9%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.4 pts	2.1%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.5 pts	0.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.3 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.9%±1.3 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.4 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	1.1%±0.7 pts	4.5%	–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.8%±1.9 pts	6.7%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.0%±1.4 pts	7.3%	–
With a disability	20.6%±2.3 pts	14.9%	–
No health insurance coverage	9.3%±2.6 pts	8.8%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	87.5%±2.8 pts	91.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	17.4%±3.0 pts	32.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	3.9%±1.2 pts	12.6%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.1%±0.7 pts	2.5%	–

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 Barton County earn?

Half of Barton County's 4,454 households earn less than $51,635 a year (±$5,457), against $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $54,304 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Barton County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$51,635±$5,457	$70,702	no clear change
Mean household income	$66,871±$5,567	$96,247	–
Per capita income	$26,253±$2,336	$39,695	−$6,371
People below the poverty line	20.2%±4.4 pts	12.6%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	25.8%±8.5 pts	15.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	18.5%±4.1 pts	9.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	82.7%±3.4 pts	89.3%	–

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 Barton County?

Owners occupy 68.1% of Barton County's occupied homes and renters 31.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $136,500 by its owner (±$28,748). The median renter pays $805 a month including utilities, and 39.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Barton County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$136,500±$28,748	$230,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$805±$58	$1,033	+$120
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.9%±13.0 pts	36.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,170±$120	$1,524	–
Owner-occupied homes	68.1%±4.5 pts	68.1%	no clear change
Housing units	5,285±26	2,825,287	−314
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.0%±1.1 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.7%±8.7 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	81.7%±3.7 pts	70.5%	–
Mobile homes	8.3%±2.3 pts	5.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.1%±0.8 pts	1.6%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	19.8%±4.3 pts	13.3%	–

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 Barton County building?

Builders took permits for 46 new housing units across Barton County in 2025 (8 single-family), 3.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 0 units
2020 3 units
2021 0 units
2022 2 units
2023 6 units
2024 7 units
2025 46 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Barton County get to work?

84.2% of Barton County's workers drive alone and 7.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Barton County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.4%±3.8 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.3%±1.5 pts	4.0%	−3.8 pts
Drove alone to work	84.2%±3.1 pts	74.8%	–
Carpooled	5.4%±2.2 pts	8.1%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Walked	2.0%±1.2 pts	1.8%	–
Worked from home	7.8%±2.5 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	23.9 min±2.6	23.5 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 are Barton County's census tracts?

Barton County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $39,048 (Tract 9603) to $66,750 (Tract 9602).

Census tracts of Barton County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 960129011960100	Golden City (9%)	2,865	2,950±222	$60,194	$200,000	$671	14.2%
Tract 960229011960200	Liberal (5%)	3,804	3,935±271	$66,750	$172,500	$670	12.3%
Tract 960329011960300	Lamar (77%)	4,968	4,805±175	$39,048	$116,200	$832	30.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Barton County compare with Missouri's other counties?

Barton County's rank among Missouri's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	78th of 115
Growth 2020-2025	61st of 115
Residents per square mile	81st of 115
Median household income	96th of 115
Median home value	92nd of 115
Median gross rent	39th of 115
Poverty rate	14th of 115
Bachelor's degree or higher	64th of 115
Median age	55th of 115

Every county in Missouri

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Barton County 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' school search.