Jefferson County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in Missouri with a total population of 228,227. It is the 7th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 40.2 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $80,522. This is 17% higher than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $218,800. Housing costs are 1% higher than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jefferson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

23.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% 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 91.5%.