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Pettis County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Pettis County, Missouri has a population of 43,205, the 26th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $60,232 and the median home value is $161,500. The poverty rate is 13.4%.

Pettis County Quick Facts

Population 43,205
Median Household Income $60,232
Median Home Value $161,500
Poverty Rate 13.4%
Unemployment Rate 4.0%
Median Age 37.9 years
Homeownership Rate 70.1%
Affordability Ratio 2.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 18.6%
High School Graduation 87.2%
Cities/Places 8
Population 43,205 26th of 115
Median Income $60,232 13% lower than state
Poverty Rate 13.4%
Unemployment 4.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 16.9%
$25K-$50K 23.2%
$50K-$100K 34.2%
$100K+ 25.7%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.1%
$10K-$15K
4.4%
$15K-$20K
3.8%
$20K-$25K
3.6%
$25K-$30K
3.9%
$30K-$35K
4.1%
$35K-$40K
6.3%
$40K-$45K
3.7%
$45K-$50K
5.1%
$50K-$60K
9.7%
$60K-$75K
11.3%
$75K-$100K
13.1%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
6.9%
$150K-$200K
5.3%
$200K+
3.6%

Employment

4.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1%|National: 5.2%
63.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.1%
Renter 29.9%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

31out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 39 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Pettis County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Sedalia21,869$50,66817.2%$136,500
Windsor3,038$42,00426.2%$96,400
La Monte978$63,02113.9%$104,800
Green Ridge594$61,83811.8%$113,700
Smithton509$51,8756.5%$87,500
Houstonia255$37,3968.6%$48,900
Hughesville154$53,33320.1%$80,000
Ionia59$14,75066.1%$60,700

Population Overview

Pettis County is located in Missouri with a total population of 43,205. It is the 26th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pettis County is 37.9 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pettis County is $60,232. This is 13% lower than the state median of $68,920. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $161,500. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Pettis County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Pettis County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.6%. The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.6% vs 5.1%). The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

18.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 87.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Pettis County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 Pettis County, Missouri?

Pettis County has a population of 43,205, making it the 26th most populous county in Missouri.

What is the median income in Pettis County?

The median household income in Pettis County is $60,232 with a poverty rate of 13.4%.

How many cities are in Pettis County, Missouri?

Pettis County contains 8 Census-designated places.