Dunklin County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Dunklin County is located in Missouri with a total population of 27,795. It is the 40th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dunklin County is 39.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dunklin County is $47,368. This is 31% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.4%. This is 70% 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 4.7%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $93,800. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Dunklin County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dunklin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.8%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

12.6% 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 60% 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 80.0%.