West Plains

Population: 12,341
Median household income: $39,897
Median home value: $158,700

West Plains, a community in Howell County, Missouri, has 12,341 residents. The median household income of $39,897 is below the Howell County median ($49,814).

From 2019 to 2023, West Plains's population held roughly steady from 12,233 to 12,341, while its median home value rose 59.2% from $99,700 to $158,700.

31.0% of residents live below the poverty line. Households average 2.38 people.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 12,341
Median age: 34.2 yrs
Median household income: $39,897
Median home value: $158,700
Median gross rent: $762
Housing units: 5,571
Homeownership rate: 48.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.7%
Unemployment rate: 4.5%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

12,23312,341

Median household income

$36,865$39,897

Median home value

$99,700$158,700

Median gross rent

$624$762

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	12,233	$36,865	$99,700	$624
2020	12,290	$37,154	$95,400	$654
2021	12,048	$38,408	$102,600	$680
2022	12,250	$38,676	$137,700	$739
2023	12,341	$39,897	$158,700	$762

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 57.1%

5 to 1718.7%

18 to 249.1%

25 to 3416.1%

35 to 4411.0%

45 to 5411.0%

55 to 649.7%

65 to 747.7%

75 and over9.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	875	7.1%
5 to 17	2,311	18.7%
18 to 24	1,128	9.1%
25 to 34	1,987	16.1%
35 to 44	1,363	11.0%
45 to 54	1,363	11.0%
55 to 64	1,200	9.7%
65 to 74	948	7.7%
75 and over	1,166	9.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	11,721	95.0%
Black or African American	86	0.7%
American Indian & Alaska Native	16	0.1%
Asian	55	0.4%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	401	3.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	62	0.5%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma14.7%

High school graduate40.8%

Some college or associate's26.7%

Bachelor's degree10.7%

Graduate or professional degree7.0%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,182	14.7%
High school graduate	3,275	40.8%
Some college or associate's	2,146	26.7%
Bachelor's degree	859	10.7%
Graduate or professional degree	565	7.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 17 min

Drove alone84.0%

Carpooled8.4%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home3.6%

Other means3.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	3,962	84.0%
Carpooled	394	8.4%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	48	1.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	170	3.6%
Other means	140	3.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	2,989	65.8%
15 to 29 min	813	17.9%
30 to 44 min	336	7.4%
45 to 59 min	20	0.4%
60+ min	386	8.5%

Households

Average household size: 2.38
Poverty rate: 31.0% (3,691 of 11,913)

	Count	Share
Family households	2,659	53.6%
Nonfamily households	2,301	46.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1979

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	4,960	89.0%
Vacant	611	11.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	2,389	48.2%
Renter-occupied	2,571	51.8%

1-unit, detached70.4%

1-unit, attached2.4%

2 to 4 units13.2%

5 to 19 units7.9%

20 or more units3.2%

Mobile home & other3.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	3,920	70.4%
1-unit, attached	131	2.4%
2 to 4 units	736	13.2%
5 to 19 units	438	7.9%
20 or more units	178	3.2%
Mobile home & other	168	3.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2978928
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 13 sq mi
Water area: 0.02 sq mi
Center point: 36.7374, -91.8680