Pettis County, Missouri Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. 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%.