Houston, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Houston, Missouri had a total population of 2,226, the 257th largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $40,000, which is 43% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 30.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 43% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (30.0%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Unemployment rate of 8.8% is notably above the national average.
Houston Quick Facts
How Houston 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 | 2,407 | 2,226 | -7.5% |
| Median household income | $41,250 | $40,000 | -3.0% |
| Median home value | $115,200 | $114,400 | -0.7% |
How Houston Compares
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+)
Houston Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Texas County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Grove | 4,491 | $37,415 | 17.8% | $87,200 |
| Licking | 2,858 | $35,652 | 37.5% | $116,900 |
| Cabool | 2,348 | $33,929 | 28.9% | $130,000 |
| Raymondville | 563 | $48,438 | 18.1% | $119,500 |
| Summersville | 409 | $48,125 | 12.2% | $67,500 |
| Plato | 183 | N/A | 1.6% | $176,800 |
Cities Similar to Houston
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Springs | 2,279 | $41,406 | $135,400 | 16.0% | 20.5% |
| Castle Point | 2,340 | $37,679 | $62,600 | 10.1% | 34.1% |
| Thayer | 2,333 | $37,417 | $67,500 | 20.0% | 34.3% |
| Slater | 2,066 | $39,479 | $85,300 | 13.7% | 34.0% |
| Doniphan | 2,345 | $37,650 | $110,400 | 14.8% | 30.2% |
Population Overview
Houston is a small community located in Missouri, within Texas County. The total population is 2,226. It ranks as the 257th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Houston is 42.3 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Houston is $40,000. This is 43% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.0%. This is 138% 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 8.8%. This is 118% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $114,400. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Houston is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Houston has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.7%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.
Education
16.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 84.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Houston, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Missouri city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Houston, Missouri?
Houston, Missouri has a population of 2,226 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Houston, MO?
The median household income in Houston is $40,000, which is 50% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Houston, MO?
The poverty rate in Houston is 30.0%. This means approximately 624 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Houston, Missouri?
Houston's population is 89.8% White, 1.1% Black, 2.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Houston, MO?
The median home value in Houston is $114,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.9x.
How educated is Houston, Missouri?
16.0% of adults (25+) in Houston hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.