County · Missouri
Hickory County, Missouri
Hickory County, Missouri. Hickory County had 9,044 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.2% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). It holds 5 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 29085.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,044
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,279 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,585
Median household income
$39,390
±$3,056 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$176,100
±$20,787 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$648
±$122 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
How many people live in Hickory County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,279 residents in Hickory County. The Census Bureau estimates 9,044 for July 1, 2025, up 9.2% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,585 over 399 square miles of land.
| Measure | Hickory County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,585 | 6,191,814 | −819 |
| Households | 3,601±177 | 2,508,227 | −375 |
| Average household size | 2.34±0.11 | 2.40 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,480±22 | 2,825,287 | −1,389 |
Hickory County's population since 2000
From 8,940 in 2000 to 9,044 in 2025: up 1.2%. 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.
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 Hickory County?
Hickory County holds 5 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Hermitage with 658 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
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 Hickory County?
The median resident of Hickory County is 55.2 years old; 17.3% are under 18 and 32.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.2%.
| Measure | Hickory County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.2±0.3 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.3%±0.4 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 32.3%±0.6 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.8% | 5.2% | +0.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.4%±0.4 pts | 76.3% | −1.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±0.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.6%±2.4 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.5%±1.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 25.0%±2.9 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 13.2%±5.1 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.3%±2.2 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.8%±1.9 pts | 32.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.2%±1.3 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9%±1.1 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 Hickory County earn?
Half of Hickory County's 3,601 households earn less than $39,390 a year (±$3,056), against $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $42,068 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hickory County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,390±$3,056 | $70,702 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $54,402±$4,603 | $96,247 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,107±$1,932 | $39,695 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 19.8%±3.7 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.9%±8.0 pts | 15.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.9%±3.0 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 71.7%±5.2 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 Hickory County?
Owners occupy 82.4% of Hickory County's occupied homes and renters 17.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $176,100 by its owner (±$20,787). The median renter pays $648 a month including utilities, and 50.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hickory County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $176,100±$20,787 | $230,300 | +$73,460 |
| Median gross rent | $648±$122 | $1,033 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.2%±13.5 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,072±$132 | $1,524 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.4%±3.6 pts | 68.1% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,480±22 | 2,825,287 | −1,389 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7%±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.7%±4.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.6%±4.0 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 26.8%±3.8 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.3%±2.0 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 do people in Hickory County get to work?
77.2% of Hickory County's workers drive alone and 6.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 13.8%.
| Measure | Hickory County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 41.3%±3.6 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.8%±4.5 pts | 4.0% | +7.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 77.2%±5.3 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.5%±4.7 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.2%±1.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.1%±3.5 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min±5.0 | 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 Hickory County's census tracts?
Hickory County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $36,042 (Tract 4705.01) to $45,020 (Tract 4705.02).
| Tract 470129085470100 | 2,889±345 | $37,297 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 470329085470300 | 2,122±232 | $38,690 |
| Tract 4705.0129085470501 | 1,704±290 | $36,042 |
| Tract 4705.0229085470502 | 1,870±290 | $45,020 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Hickory County compare with Missouri's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 94th of 115 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 4th of 115 |
| Residents per square mile | 78th of 115 |
| Median household income | 115th of 115 |
| Median home value | 46th of 115 |
| Median gross rent | 93rd of 115 |
| Poverty rate | 16th of 115 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 106th of 115 |
| Median age | 1st of 115 |
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 Hickory 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.