County · Missouri

Stoddard County, Missouri

Stoddard County, Missouri. Stoddard County had 28,284 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.4% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. It holds 18 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs, 7 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 29207.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

28,284

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 28,672 · ACS 2020-2024: 28,470

Median household income

$57,957

±$3,823 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702

Median home value

$143,300

±$9,211 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300

Median gross rent

$760

±$38 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033

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

The 2020 Census counted 28,672 residents in Stoddard County. The Census Bureau estimates 28,284 for July 1, 2025, down 1.4% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 28,470 over 823 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −125 (28,531)
2021→2022 −161 (28,370)
2022→2023 −26 (28,344)
2023→2024 +40 (28,384)
2024→2025 −100 (28,284)

Stoddard County in Missouri. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Stoddard County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	28,470	6,191,814	−907
Households	11,585±244	2,508,227	no clear change
Average household size	2.42±0.05	2.40	−0.09
Housing units	13,400±34	2,825,287	−348

Stoddard County's population since 2000

From 29,705 in 2000 to 28,284 in 2025: down 4.8%. 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 29,705
2005 (estimate) 30,240
2010 Census 29,968
2015 (estimate) 29,751
2020 Census 28,672
2025 (estimate) 28,284

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 Stoddard County?

Stoddard County holds 18 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 7 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Liberty Township, Stoddard County with 14,741 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 Stoddard County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Liberty Township, Stoddard County	township	14,988	14,846±25	$57,847	$156,900	14.0%	100%
Dexter	city	7,927	7,891±23	$51,701	$137,200	17.0%	100%
Castor Township	township	4,674	4,679±39	$57,125	$101,900	14.2%	100%
Pike Township	township	3,642	3,605±26	$61,313	$122,000	18.3%	100%
Duck Creek Township	township	3,045	2,813±287	$51,099	$152,000	13.7%	100%
Bernie	city	1,859	1,725±236	$48,438	$98,100	24.1%	100%
Bloomfield	city	1,755	2,069±345	$41,838	$67,100	25.1%	100%
Advance	city	1,349	1,450±216	$59,688	$127,500	14.0%	100%
Richland Township, Stoddard County	township	1,155	1,306±177	$42,625	$98,200	28.7%	100%
New Lisbon Township	township	896	1,012±267	$85,441	$150,400	14.0%	100%
Puxico	city	873	846±195	$47,500	$89,500	18.0%	100%
Bell City	city	464	496±132	not published	$47,500	36.7%	100%
Essex	city	403	413±109	$62,536	$108,700	24.6%	100%
Elk TownshipGEOID 2920721592	township	272	209±76	$81,705	$95,800	2.0%	100%
DudleyGEOID 2920296	city	101	99±38	$50,750	$190,000	7.1%	100%
GrayridgeGEOID 2928864	CDP	87	96±53	$40,313	not published	0.0%	100%
PenermonGEOID 2956900	village	51	102±81	$17,625	$44,700	87.3%	100%
BakerGEOID 2903034	village	3	0±12	not published	not published	–	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 Stoddard County?

The median resident of Stoddard County is 42.0 years old; 22.1% are under 18 and 20.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.6%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Stoddard County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.0±0.5	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.1%±0.1 pts	22.3%	–
65 years and over	20.6%±0.2 pts	17.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.2%	5.2%	+0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	92.7%±1.0 pts	76.3%	−2.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.3 pts	10.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 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	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.6%±1.1 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.4%±0.3 pts	4.5%	–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	1.2%±0.5 pts	6.7%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	9.1%±1.3 pts	7.3%	–
With a disability	20.8%±1.9 pts	14.9%	–
No health insurance coverage	11.2%±1.3 pts	8.8%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	83.7%±1.8 pts	91.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	16.7%±1.9 pts	32.4%	+3.4 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.8%±1.1 pts	12.6%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.4%±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 Stoddard County earn?

Half of Stoddard County's 11,585 households earn less than $57,957 a year (±$3,823), against $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 the median was $50,535 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,422 after inflation. 15.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Stoddard County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$57,957±$3,823	$70,702	+$7,422
Mean household income	$72,528±$4,033	$96,247	–
Per capita income	$30,101±$1,616	$39,695	+$2,856
People below the poverty line	15.1%±2.1 pts	12.6%	−3.1 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	17.8%±5.3 pts	15.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	15.2%±2.3 pts	9.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.9%±2.1 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 Stoddard County?

Owners occupy 71.8% of Stoddard County's occupied homes and renters 28.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $143,300 by its owner (±$9,211). The median renter pays $760 a month including utilities, and 21.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Stoddard County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$143,300±$9,211	$230,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$760±$38	$1,033	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	21.0%±5.0 pts	36.6%	−17.0 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,110±$37	$1,524	–
Owner-occupied homes	71.8%±2.9 pts	68.1%	+3.8 pts
Housing units	13,400±34	2,825,287	−348
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.4 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.7%±3.3 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	80.9%±2.3 pts	70.5%	–
Mobile homes	7.4%±1.5 pts	5.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.9%±0.6 pts	1.6%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	8.1%±1.6 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 Stoddard County building?

Builders took permits for 8 new housing units across Stoddard County in 2025 (6 single-family), 0.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 17 units
2020 2 units
2021 8 units
2022 4 units
2023 12 units
2024 9 units
2025 8 units

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

How do people in Stoddard County get to work?

87.4% of Stoddard 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 3.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Stoddard County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	56.7%±2.1 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.7%±1.5 pts	4.0%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	87.4%±2.3 pts	74.8%	–
Carpooled	7.2%±1.7 pts	8.1%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Walked	1.3%±0.5 pts	1.8%	–
Worked from home	3.0%±1.2 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	23.1 min±1.1	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 Stoddard County's census tracts?

Stoddard County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $47,446 (Tract 4705) to $78,333 (Tract 4708).

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

Tract 470129207470100	Advance (27%)	3,634	3,614±25	$61,875	$121,400	$563	18.2%
Tract 470229207470200	Puxico (11%)	4,066	3,869±204	$52,177	$144,200	$715	13.7%
Tract 470329207470300	Bloomfield (29%)	4,090	4,392±444	$62,852	$157,900	$783	14.1%
Tract 470429207470400	Essex (9%)	2,550	2,651±276	$61,471	$103,300	$688	17.4%
Tract 470529207470500	Dexter (95%)	3,501	3,550±446	$47,446	$141,800	$789	27.9%
Tract 470629207470600	Dexter (81%)	5,118	5,129±520	$56,719	$144,800	$778	9.9%
Tract 470729207470700	Bernie (44%)	2,549	2,377±294	$59,896	$102,600	$784	19.8%
Tract 470829207470800	Dexter (5%)	3,164	2,888±308	$78,333	$206,200	$957	2.8%

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

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

Stoddard County's rank among Missouri's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	38th of 115
Growth 2020-2025	95th of 115
Residents per square mile	52nd of 115
Median household income	66th of 115
Median home value	88th of 115
Median gross rent	62nd of 115
Poverty rate	51st of 115
Bachelor's degree or higher	71st of 115
Median age	45th 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 Stoddard 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.