Barry County, Missouri Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. 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%.