Adair County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Adair County, Missouri has a population of 25,224, the 41st most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $56,583 and the median home value is $159,500. The poverty rate is 21.2%.
Adair County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 39 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Adair County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirksville | 17,493 | $48,063 | 27.2% | $145,300 |
| Novinger | 454 | $44,063 | 26.3% | $52,300 |
| Greentop | 367 | $52,188 | 3.8% | $104,700 |
| Brashear | 172 | $43,750 | 21.5% | $78,300 |
| Connelsville | 88 | N/A | 29.5% | $119,200 |
| Millard | 75 | $65,625 | 10.7% | $58,300 |
| Gibbs | 71 | N/A | 25.4% | N/A |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Adair County is located in Missouri with a total population of 25,224. It is the 41st most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Adair County is 29.8 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Adair County is $56,583. This is 18% lower than the state median of $68,920. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 21.2%. This is 68% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $159,500. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Adair County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 60.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 67.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Adair County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.2%. The Black or African American population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 11.0%.
Education
35.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Adair County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.7%. Notably, 18.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Adair County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Missouri and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Adair County, Missouri?
Adair County has a population of 25,224, making it the 41st most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Adair County?
The median household income in Adair County is $56,583 with a poverty rate of 21.2%.
How many cities are in Adair County, Missouri?
Adair County contains 7 Census-designated places.