Jefferson County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Jefferson County, Missouri has a population of 229,458, the 7th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $82,851 and the median home value is $237,200. The poverty rate is 9.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Jefferson County Quick Facts
How Jefferson County 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 | 228,227 | 229,458 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $80,522 | $82,851 | +2.9% |
| Median home value | $218,800 | $237,200 | +8.4% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Jefferson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold | 20,956 | $78,370 | 8.2% | $220,000 |
| Festus | 13,201 | $73,532 | 17.1% | $223,600 |
| Murphy | 8,285 | $72,233 | 10.2% | $184,700 |
| De Soto | 6,470 | $52,500 | 13.1% | $160,700 |
| Pevely | 6,055 | $56,000 | 17.9% | $219,600 |
| Barnhart | 5,785 | $95,811 | 4.9% | $229,200 |
| Imperial | 5,488 | $90,028 | 11.1% | $228,700 |
| Herculaneum | 5,071 | $93,438 | 5.6% | $234,300 |
| Crystal City | 4,718 | $72,598 | 11.4% | $185,800 |
| High Ridge | 3,714 | $70,917 | 7.2% | $172,200 |
| Hillsboro | 3,500 | $77,500 | 11.7% | $221,200 |
| Byrnes Mill | 3,189 | $98,576 | 21.1% | $306,200 |
| Raintree Plantation | 2,047 | $77,532 | 7.3% | $315,900 |
| LaBarque Creek | 1,457 | $133,083 | 1.1% | $455,600 |
| Cedar Hill | 1,261 | $60,625 | 15.9% | $181,700 |
| Summer Set | 1,236 | $98,167 | 1.1% | $238,400 |
| Horine | 781 | N/A | 18.9% | $213,400 |
| Olympian Village | 694 | $57,614 | 12.3% | $157,000 |
| Briarwood Estates | 307 | $119,833 | 4.2% | $354,700 |
| Cedar Hill Lakes | 284 | $59,821 | 7.0% | $140,000 |
| Scotsdale | 216 | $85,625 | 4.2% | $247,900 |
| Parkdale | 204 | $75,625 | 1.5% | $167,300 |
| Lake Tekakwitha | 202 | $51,042 | 3.5% | $109,600 |
| Peaceful Village | 117 | $58,382 | 1.7% | $260,000 |
| Kimmswick | 112 | $68,750 | 0.0% | $226,800 |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Jefferson County is located in Missouri with a total population of 229,458. It is the 7th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 25 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Jefferson County is 40.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Jefferson County is $82,851. This is 17% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $237,200. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Jefferson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
24.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 92.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Jefferson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, 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 Jefferson County, Missouri?
Jefferson County has a population of 229,458, making it the 7th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Jefferson County?
The median household income in Jefferson County is $82,851 with a poverty rate of 9.0%.
How many cities are in Jefferson County, Missouri?
Jefferson County contains 25 Census-designated places.