Buchanan County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Buchanan County, Missouri has a population of 83,568, the 14th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $62,158 and the median home value is $166,300. The poverty rate is 16.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Buchanan County Quick Facts
How Buchanan County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,855 | 83,568 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $59,423 | $62,158 | +4.6% |
| Median home value | $156,600 | $166,300 | +6.2% |
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: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Buchanan County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | 71,236 | $57,956 | 17.7% | $154,200 |
| Gower | 1,799 | $83,750 | 10.9% | $213,200 |
| Agency | 871 | $106,000 | 1.3% | $251,800 |
| De Kalb | 518 | $94,028 | 7.7% | $137,500 |
| Easton | 336 | $61,250 | 6.7% | $150,000 |
| Rushville | 260 | $60,938 | 11.5% | $73,800 |
| Faucett | 114 | N/A | 12.3% | $242,300 |
| Lewis and Clark Village | 101 | $93,750 | 22.8% | $160,700 |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Buchanan County is located in Missouri with a total population of 83,568. It is the 14th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buchanan County is 38.9 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buchanan County is $62,158. This is 12% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.0%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $166,300. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Buchanan County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Buchanan County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.6%.
Education
23.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Buchanan County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, 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 Buchanan County, Missouri?
Buchanan County has a population of 83,568, making it the 14th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Buchanan County?
The median household income in Buchanan County is $62,158 with a poverty rate of 16.0%.
How many cities are in Buchanan County, Missouri?
Buchanan County contains 8 Census-designated places.