Liberal, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Liberal, Missouri had a total population of 747, the 431st largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $65,250, which is 8% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 13.0% is notably above the national average.
Liberal Quick Facts
How Liberal 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 | 776 | 747 | -3.7% |
| Median household income | $53,333 | $65,250 | +22.3% |
| Median home value | $76,700 | $77,000 | +0.4% |
How Liberal 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+)
Liberal Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Barton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | 4,284 | $36,705 | 32.6% | $117,200 |
| Golden City | 708 | $44,167 | 18.9% | $79,300 |
| Mindenmines | 312 | $22,292 | 39.1% | $46,900 |
| Iantha | 124 | N/A | 15.3% | N/A |
| Lamar Heights | 111 | N/A | 26.1% | $260,700 |
| Milford | 54 | N/A | 1.8% | $329,200 |
| Irwin | 43 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Burgess | 24 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Liberal
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockaway Beach | 760 | $63,646 | $181,000 | 29.8% | 13.0% |
| Pleasant Hope | 716 | $65,078 | $155,600 | 18.2% | 16.1% |
| Horine | 781 | N/A | $213,400 | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Pilot Grove | 744 | $73,977 | $133,000 | 16.6% | 7.0% |
| Orrick | 727 | $73,000 | $139,600 | 13.0% | 7.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 747, Liberal's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Liberal is a small community located in Missouri, within Barton County. The total population is 747. It ranks as the 431st most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Liberal is 45.8 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Liberal is $65,250. This is 8% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 13.0%. This is 222% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $77,000. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Liberal is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Liberal has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.7%.
Education
18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 90.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Liberal, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Liberal, Missouri?
Liberal, Missouri has a population of 747 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Liberal, MO?
The median household income in Liberal is $65,250, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Liberal, MO?
The poverty rate in Liberal is 14.1%. This means approximately 105 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Liberal, Missouri?
Liberal's population is 88.8% White, 0.0% Black, 2.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Liberal, MO?
The median home value in Liberal is $77,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.2x.
How educated is Liberal, Missouri?
18.4% of adults (25+) in Liberal hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.