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Cooper County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Cooper County, Missouri has a population of 16,835, the 63rd most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $67,548 and the median home value is $197,100. The poverty rate is 10.8%.

Cooper County Quick Facts

Population 16,835
Median Household Income $67,548
Median Home Value $197,100
Poverty Rate 10.8%
Unemployment Rate 4.5%
Median Age 39.9 years
Homeownership Rate 78.2%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.0%
High School Graduation 90.7%
Cities/Places 8
Population 16,835 63rd of 115
Median Income $67,548 2% lower than state
Poverty Rate 10.8%
Unemployment 4.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.1%
$25K-$50K 20.1%
$50K-$100K 32.7%
$100K+ 29.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.5%
$10K-$15K
3.1%
$15K-$20K
5.8%
$20K-$25K
3.7%
$25K-$30K
5.7%
$30K-$35K
2.8%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
4.4%
$45K-$50K
3.1%
$50K-$60K
6.4%
$60K-$75K
10.9%
$75K-$100K
15.5%
$100K-$125K
11.9%
$125K-$150K
7.4%
$150K-$200K
5.8%
$200K+
4.0%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%
57.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.2%
Renter 21.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 39 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cooper County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Boonville7,682$51,32112.4%$173,400
Pilot Grove646$63,7507.6%$118,300
Otterville454$48,28115.9%$114,000
Windsor Place420$96,6675.7%$234,700
Bunceton269$63,12512.6%$79,300
Prairie Home214$52,0832.8%$118,800
Blackwater203$68,1258.0%$109,400
Wooldridge33$63,75015.2%$135,000

Population Overview

Cooper County is located in Missouri with a total population of 16,835. It is the 63rd most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cooper County is 39.9 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cooper County is $67,548. This is 2% lower than the state median of $68,920. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 10.8%. This is 14% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $197,100. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Cooper County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cooper County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

24.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 90.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cooper 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 Cooper County, Missouri?

Cooper County has a population of 16,835, making it the 63rd most populous county in Missouri.

What is the median income in Cooper County?

The median household income in Cooper County is $67,548 with a poverty rate of 10.8%.

How many cities are in Cooper County, Missouri?

Cooper County contains 8 Census-designated places.