Bates County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Bates County, Missouri has a population of 16,121, the 64th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $57,914 and the median home value is $154,800. The poverty rate is 18.7%.
Bates 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 Bates County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | 4,594 | $36,276 | 32.9% | $124,100 |
| Adrian | 2,006 | $48,233 | 19.4% | $139,600 |
| Rich Hill | 1,412 | $45,203 | 34.5% | $58,100 |
| Hume | 259 | $50,417 | 33.6% | $71,000 |
| Rockville | 203 | $38,750 | 4.9% | N/A |
| Amsterdam | 127 | $43,214 | 18.1% | $47,400 |
| Amoret | 115 | $34,375 | 28.7% | N/A |
| Foster | 51 | $51,667 | 15.7% | $72,500 |
| Passaic | 42 | $50,750 | 23.8% | N/A |
| Merwin | 41 | $90,250 | 2.4% | N/A |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Bates County is located in Missouri with a total population of 16,121. It is the 64th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bates County is 40.8 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bates County is $57,914. This is 16% lower than the state median of $68,920. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 18.7%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 49% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $154,800. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Bates County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 67.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Bates County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The Black or African American population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
15.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 89.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Bates 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 Bates County, Missouri?
Bates County has a population of 16,121, making it the 64th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Bates County?
The median household income in Bates County is $57,914 with a poverty rate of 18.7%.
How many cities are in Bates County, Missouri?
Bates County contains 10 Census-designated places.