Howell County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Howell County is located in Missouri with a total population of 40,168. It is the 28th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Howell County is 40.1 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Howell County is $49,814. This is 28% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.4%. This is 69% 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 5.1%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $161,000. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 68.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Howell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) 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 (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 85.9%.