McDonald County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Name: McDonald County, Missouri Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

McDonald County, Missouri has a population of 23,701, the 46th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $52,375 and the median home value is $154,700. The poverty rate is 16.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

McDonald County Quick Facts

Population 23,701

Median Household Income $52,375

Median Home Value $154,700

Poverty Rate 16.8%

Unemployment Rate 6.8%

Median Age 38.2 years

Homeownership Rate 67.3%

Affordability Ratio 3.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 12.3%

High School Graduation 82.9%

Cities/Places 9

Population 23,701 46th of 115

Median Income $52,375 26% lower than state

Poverty Rate 16.8%

Unemployment 6.8%

How McDonald 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	23,492	23,701	+0.9%
Median household income	$48,145	$52,375	+8.8%
Median home value	$134,100	$154,700	+15.4%

Median Household Income

McDonald

$52,375

$70,702

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

McDonald

$154,700

$230,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.9%

$25K-$50K 27.2%

$50K-$100K 30.7%

$100K+ 22.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.9%

$10K-$15K

5.9%

$15K-$20K

4.8%

$20K-$25K

5.3%

$25K-$30K

7.0%

$30K-$35K

5.1%

$35K-$40K

5.4%

$40K-$45K

6.2%

$45K-$50K

3.5%

$50K-$60K

7.8%

$60K-$75K

11.1%

$75K-$100K

11.7%

$100K-$125K

7.5%

$125K-$150K

5.3%

$150K-$200K

6.6%

$200K+

2.8%

Employment

6.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.0%|National: 5.2%

56.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.3%

Renter 32.7%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $767/mo 17.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.5%

18-34

20.3%

35-54

24.4%

55-74

23.5%

75+

6.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in McDonald County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Anderson	2,685	$53,966	17.7%	$116,200
Noel	1,913	$41,483	27.2%	$122,400
Goodman	1,092	$54,250	16.5%	$117,200
Southwest City	992	$44,625	15.5%	$91,100
Pineville	736	$30,978	20.6%	$213,100
Lanagan	483	$49,000	17.0%	$90,000
Jane	292	$46,250	23.6%	$214,300
Rocky Comfort	253	$66,125	7.5%	$110,400
Ginger Blue	117	$39,153	0.9%	N/A

Explore Missouri Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

McDonald County is located in Missouri with a total population of 23,701. It is the 46th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in McDonald County is 38.2 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McDonald County is $52,375. This is 26% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.8%. This is 33% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 70% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $154,700. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 67.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in McDonald County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.4%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.4% vs 5.2%).

Education

12.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 62% 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 82.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for McDonald 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 McDonald County, Missouri?

McDonald County has a population of 23,701, making it the 46th most populous county in Missouri.

What is the median income in McDonald County?

The median household income in McDonald County is $52,375 with a poverty rate of 16.8%.

How many cities are in McDonald County, Missouri?

McDonald County contains 9 Census-designated places.