Barry County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Barry County, Missouri has a population of 34,831, the 34th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $56,611 and the median home value is $172,900. The poverty rate is 16.7%.
Barry 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 Barry County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassville | 3,208 | $52,102 | 28.4% | $152,600 |
| Shell Knob | 1,445 | $51,852 | 16.5% | $304,700 |
| Purdy | 1,308 | $43,438 | 32.8% | $84,200 |
| Exeter | 997 | $48,214 | 16.4% | $106,300 |
| Seligman | 974 | $45,052 | 20.0% | $85,000 |
| Washburn | 561 | $65,125 | 17.1% | $122,100 |
| Butterfield | 536 | $52,045 | 13.1% | $86,800 |
| Wheaton | 364 | $30,000 | 28.7% | $105,300 |
| Golden | 277 | $44,091 | 6.1% | $208,000 |
| Emerald Beach | 207 | $44,444 | 15.1% | $186,400 |
| Chain-O-Lakes | 136 | $25,500 | 58.8% | $164,500 |
| Arrow Point | 75 | $35,625 | 44.0% | N/A |
| Eagle Rock | 63 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Barry County is located in Missouri with a total population of 34,831. It is the 34th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Barry County is 43.0 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Barry County is $56,611. 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 16.7%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $172,900. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 74.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Barry County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.0%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.0% vs 5.1%).
Education
13.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 58% lower 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 85.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Barry 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 Barry County, Missouri?
Barry County has a population of 34,831, making it the 34th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Barry County?
The median household income in Barry County is $56,611 with a poverty rate of 16.7%.
How many cities are in Barry County, Missouri?
Barry County contains 13 Census-designated places.