County · Missouri

Dunklin County, Missouri

Dunklin County, Missouri. Dunklin County had 26,855 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.1% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. It holds 21 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs, 8 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 29069.

Dunklin County is the county of the Kennett, MO micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

26,855

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 28,283 · ACS 2020-2024: 27,493

Median household income

$47,849

±$4,146 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702

Median home value

$97,600

±$5,381 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300

Median gross rent

$648

±$30 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033

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

The 2020 Census counted 28,283 residents in Dunklin County. The Census Bureau estimates 26,855 for July 1, 2025, down 5.1% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 27,493 over 542 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −464 (27,752)
2021→2022 −292 (27,460)
2022→2023 −378 (27,082)
2023→2024 −25 (27,057)
2024→2025 −202 (26,855)

Dunklin County in Missouri. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Dunklin County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	27,493	6,191,814	−2,534
Households	11,257±268	2,508,227	−1,085
Average household size	2.38±0.06	2.40	no clear change
Housing units	13,447±39	2,825,287	−981

Dunklin County's population since 2000

From 33,155 in 2000 to 26,855 in 2025: down 19.0%. 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 33,155
2005 (estimate) 32,581
2010 Census 31,953
2015 (estimate) 30,868
2020 Census 28,283
2025 (estimate) 26,855

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 Dunklin County?

Dunklin County holds 21 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 8 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Independence Township, Dunklin County with 11,792 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 Dunklin County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Independence Township, Dunklin County	township	12,263	11,960±49	$55,521	$114,400	18.4%	100%
Kennett	city	10,515	10,196±291	$52,500	$112,000	19.1%	100%
Cotton Hill Township	township	4,975	4,830±38	$47,096	$92,400	25.0%	100%
Malden	city	3,706	3,805±288	$40,118	$101,300	30.1%	100%
Union Township, Dunklin County	township	3,460	3,349±40	$50,938	$98,500	20.0%	100%
Salem Township, Dunklin County	township	2,488	2,439±230	$40,352	$80,700	23.1%	100%
Campbell	city	1,605	1,766±308	$49,926	$75,300	30.7%	100%
Senath	city	1,593	1,662±216	$31,667	$79,500	24.2%	100%
Freeborn Township	township	1,458	1,447±279	$45,882	$54,000	27.0%	100%
Holcomb Township	township	1,306	1,213±248	$49,167	$106,400	15.7%	100%
Clay Township, Dunklin County	township	1,241	1,101±169	$50,000	$69,300	27.7%	100%
Buffalo Township	township	1,092	1,154±244	$24,537	$81,000	45.1%	100%
Clarkton	city	1,009	958±272	$46,333	$47,000	31.7%	100%
Holcomb	city	642	666±190	$62,841	$108,100	12.3%	100%
CardwellGEOID 2911350	city	561	816±237	$22,500	$38,800	56.7%	100%
Hornersville	city	537	531±131	$38,750	$55,800	34.8%	100%
Arbyrd	city	404	432±107	$37,000	$46,800	27.1%	100%
FrisbeeGEOID 2926020	CDP	107	95±70	$59,375	$99,500	0.0%	100%
White OakGEOID 2979468	CDP	101	119±101	not published	not published	29.4%	100%
RivesGEOID 2962228	town	42	64±49	not published	not published	4.7%	100%
HollywoodGEOID 2932698	CDP	24	2±4	not published	not published	0.0%	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 Dunklin County?

The median resident of Dunklin County is 39.7 years old; 26.0% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 11.3%. 2.9% 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	Dunklin County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	39.7±0.5	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	26.0%±0.1 pts	22.3%	–
65 years and over	18.7%±0.2 pts	17.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7.7%	5.2%	+1.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	73.5%±1.5 pts	76.3%	−6.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	6.9%±1.1 pts	10.9%	−3.3 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.4 pts	2.1%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	11.3%±2.0 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.9%±0.5 pts	4.5%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.6%±0.7 pts	6.7%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.9%±1.0 pts	7.3%	–
With a disability	22.1%±1.5 pts	14.9%	–
No health insurance coverage	15.1%±1.6 pts	8.8%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	81.1%±1.8 pts	91.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	13.2%±1.6 pts	32.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.2%±1.1 pts	12.6%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.0%±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 Dunklin County earn?

Half of Dunklin County's 11,257 households earn less than $47,849 a year (±$4,146), against $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $44,773 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Dunklin County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$47,849±$4,146	$70,702	no clear change
Mean household income	$64,703±$3,642	$96,247	–
Per capita income	$26,244±$1,398	$39,695	no clear change
People below the poverty line	22.0%±2.1 pts	12.6%	−3.7 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	29.7%±4.4 pts	15.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	24.6%±2.9 pts	9.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.5%±1.7 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 Dunklin County?

Owners occupy 62.3% of Dunklin County's occupied homes and renters 37.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $97,600 by its owner (±$5,381). The median renter pays $648 a month including utilities, and 32.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Dunklin County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$97,600±$5,381	$230,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$648±$30	$1,033	−$61
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	32.9%±6.2 pts	36.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,058±$55	$1,524	–
Owner-occupied homes	62.3%±2.6 pts	68.1%	no clear change
Housing units	13,447±39	2,825,287	−981
Homeowner vacancy rate	3.1%±2.0 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	7.1%±3.0 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	78.1%±2.5 pts	70.5%	–
Mobile homes	9.3%±1.6 pts	5.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.3%±0.2 pts	1.6%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	10.0%±1.8 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 Dunklin County building?

Builders took permits for 30 new housing units across Dunklin County in 2025 (28 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 21 units
2020 23 units
2021 26 units
2022 29 units
2023 32 units
2024 30 units
2025 30 units

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

How do people in Dunklin County get to work?

81.5% of Dunklin County's workers drive alone and 3.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Dunklin County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	53.2%±2.0 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	4.8%±1.8 pts	4.0%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	81.5%±2.4 pts	74.8%	–
Carpooled	13.1%±2.3 pts	8.1%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Walked	1.5%±0.8 pts	1.8%	–
Worked from home	3.0%±1.0 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	23.1 min±1.3	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 Dunklin County's census tracts?

Dunklin County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $36,583 (Tract 3610) to $64,432 (Tract 3607).

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

Tract 360129069360100	Malden (93%)	2,131	2,000±207	$38,171	$73,400	$837	39.0%
Tract 360229069360200	Malden (83%)	2,568	2,573±211	$48,917	$123,100	$618	15.4%
Tract 360329069360300	Campbell (27%)	3,658	3,543±119	$55,469	$101,500	$689	19.5%
Tract 360429069360400	Clarkton (11%)	3,751	3,954±348	$47,778	$76,500	$621	20.9%
Tract 360529069360500	Kennett (83%)	2,936	2,544±425	$43,750	$91,300	$592	14.7%
Tract 360629069360600	Kennett (78%)	4,290	4,232±387	$44,457	$97,300	$467	24.6%
Tract 360729069360700	Kennett (92%)	3,576	3,398±374	$64,432	$134,200	$688	14.0%
Tract 360829069360800	Senath (29%)	2,082	2,009±214	$45,652	$115,700	$515	21.5%
Tract 360929069360900	Hornersville (11%)	1,666	1,526±200	$54,191	$121,600	$433	23.1%
Tract 361029069361000	Cardwell (18%)	1,625	1,714±254	$36,583	$66,100	$760	37.8%

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

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

Dunklin County's rank among Missouri's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	40th of 115
Growth 2020-2025	111th of 115
Residents per square mile	35th of 115
Median household income	106th of 115
Median home value	113th of 115
Median gross rent	93rd of 115
Poverty rate	5th of 115
Bachelor's degree or higher	105th of 115
Median age	79th 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 Dunklin 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.