Barton County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Barton County is located in Missouri with a total population of 11,685. It is the 78th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Barton County is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Barton County is $49,503. This is 28% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.2%. This is 76% 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 4.1%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $136,000. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Barton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Barton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.8%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

18.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 86.1%.