State

Missouri

Missouri. Missouri had 6,270,541 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 1,362 places (948 incorporated, 280 towns and townships and 134 census-designated) in 115 counties; 68,746 square miles of land.

Residents, 2025 estimate

6,270,541

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,154,913

Median household income

$70,702

±$325 (90% margin)

Median home value

$230,300

±$880 (90% margin)

Median gross rent

$1,033

±$6 (90% margin)

How many people live in Missouri?

The 2020 Census counted 6,154,913 residents in Missouri. The Census Bureau estimates 6,270,541 for July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 71.2% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place (a city, village, borough or CDP); in the counties organized into townships, 280 townships are also local governments, and many of those places lie inside one.

  • July 2020→2021 +17,477 (6,172,551)
  • 2021→2022 +6,734 (6,179,285)
  • 2022→2023 +26,671 (6,205,956)
  • 2023→2024 +37,588 (6,243,544)
  • 2024→2025 +26,997 (6,270,541)

Missouri is the 18th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Missouri Change since 2015-2019
Total population 6,191,814 +86,904
Households 2,508,227 ±6,821 +93,706
Average household size 2.40 ±0.01 −0.06
Housing units 2,825,287 ±1,043 +34,890

Missouri's population since 2000

From 5,595,211 in 2000 to 6,270,541 in 2025: up 12.1%. 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 5,595,211
  • 2005 (estimate) 5,790,300
  • 2010 Census 5,988,927
  • 2015 (estimate) 6,075,411
  • 2020 Census 6,154,913
  • 2025 (estimate) 6,270,541

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; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What are the largest cities in Missouri?

Kansas City is Missouri's largest place with 521,220 residents in 2025, followed by St. Louis (278,144 residents in 2025) and Springfield (169,847 residents in 2025).

The 25 largest places in Missouri: Census estimate for 2025 (incorporated places) or ACS 2020-2024 (census-designated places)
PlaceResidentsChange since 2020Median household incomeCounty
Kansas City521,220+2.6%$69,166Jackson County
St. Louis278,144−7.7%$56,160St. Louis city
Springfield169,847+0.4%$49,311Greene County
Columbia130,851+3.8%$66,498Boone County
Independence121,675−1.0%$60,339Jackson County
Lee's Summit107,514+6.3%$102,531Jackson County
O'Fallon96,101+5.2%$110,443St. Charles County
St. Charles72,561+2.7%$85,937St. Charles County
St. Joseph71,001−2.0%$57,956Buchanan County
Blue Springs61,632+5.1%$88,920Jackson County
St. Peters61,479+6.5%$91,637St. Charles County
Joplin53,930+4.3%$52,097Jasper County
Florissant51,124−2.7%$65,318St. Louis County
Wentzville49,495+10.1%$112,394St. Charles County
Chesterfield49,309−1.4%$133,037St. Louis County
Jefferson City42,489−1.8%$66,371Cole County
Cape Girardeau40,977+3.6%$55,658Cape Girardeau County
Oakville35,333CDP: no estimate$106,362St. Louis County
Wildwood34,955−1.3%$161,060St. Louis County
University City34,657−1.6%$80,694St. Louis County
Liberty31,319+3.9%$88,542Clay County
Ballwin30,901−2.5%$124,626St. Louis County
Mehlville29,805CDP: no estimate$67,071St. Louis County
Kirkwood29,331−0.5%$121,270St. Louis County
Raytown29,154−2.5%$68,840Jackson County

All 1,362 places in Missouri, sortable

Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates

What counties are in Missouri?

Missouri has 115 counties. St. Louis County is the largest with 990,911 residents in 2025; Worth County is the smallest with 1,914.

All 115 counties of Missouri

Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates

Who lives in Missouri?

The median resident of Missouri is 39.0 years old; 22.3% are under 18 and 17.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.9%. 4.5% of residents were born outside the United States.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Missouri Change since 2015-2019
Median age 39.0 ±0.2 +0.4
Under 18 years 22.3% ±0.1 pts –
65 years and over 17.9% ±0.1 pts –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.2% ±0.1 pts +1.0 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 76.3% ±0.1 pts −3.1 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 10.9% ±0.1 pts −0.5 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic 2.1% ±0.1 pts no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.2% ±0.1 pts –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.1 pts –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.8% ±0.1 pts –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.4% ±0.1 pts –
Born outside the United States 4.5% ±0.1 pts +0.3 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 6.7% ±0.1 pts –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 7.3% ±0.1 pts –
With a disability 14.9% ±0.1 pts –
No health insurance coverage 8.8% ±0.1 pts −0.5 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 91.9% ±0.1 pts –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 32.4% ±0.2 pts +3.2 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 12.6% ±0.1 pts –
Moved from another state in the past year 2.5% ±0.1 pts –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Missouri earn?

Half of Missouri's 2,508,227 households earn less than $70,702 a year (±$325). In 2015-2019 the median was $68,256 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,446 after inflation. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure Missouri Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $70,702 ±$325 +$2,446
Mean household income $96,247 ±$510 –
Per capita income $39,695 ±$221 +$1,777
People below the poverty line 12.6% ±0.2 pts −1.1 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 15.8% ±0.5 pts −2.9 pts
Households receiving SNAP 9.8% ±0.2 pts –
Households with a broadband subscription 89.3% ±0.2 pts –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Missouri?

Owners occupy 68.1% of Missouri's occupied homes and renters 31.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $230,300 by its owner (±$880). The median renter pays $1,033 a month including utilities, and 36.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure Missouri Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $230,300 ±$880 +$36,835
Median gross rent $1,033 ±$6 +$12
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 36.6% ±0.5 pts no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,524 ±$7 –
Owner-occupied homes 68.1% ±0.2 pts +1.3 pts
Housing units 2,825,287 ±1,043 +34,890
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.9% ±0.1 pts –
Rental vacancy rate 5.0% ±0.2 pts –
Single-family detached homes 70.5% ±0.2 pts –
Mobile homes 5.2% ±0.1 pts –
Built 2020 or later 1.6% ±0.1 pts –
Built 1939 or earlier 13.3% ±0.1 pts –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Missouri building?

Builders took permits for 17,474 new housing units in Missouri in 2025 (11,374 single-family), 2.8 per 1,000 residents.

  • 2019 17,460 units
  • 2020 19,839 units
  • 2021 21,372 units
  • 2022 20,901 units
  • 2023 16,781 units
  • 2024 18,464 units
  • 2025 17,474 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Missouri get to work?

74.8% of Missouri's workers drive alone and 13.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure Missouri Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 63.1% ±0.2 pts –
Unemployment rate 4.0% ±0.1 pts −0.6 pts
Drove alone to work 74.8% ±0.2 pts –
Carpooled 8.1% ±0.1 pts –
Public transportation 0.8% ±0.1 pts –
Walked 1.8% ±0.1 pts –
Worked from home 13.0% ±0.2 pts +8.1 pts
Mean travel time to work 23.5 min ±0.1 −0.4 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections