Phelps County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Phelps County, Missouri has a population of 45,194, the 23rd most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $58,396 and the median home value is $206,500. The poverty rate is 16.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Phelps County Quick Facts
How Phelps 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 | 44,948 | 45,194 | +0.5% |
| Median household income | $55,427 | $58,396 | +5.4% |
| Median home value | $194,900 | $206,500 | +6.0% |
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 Phelps County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla | 20,287 | $46,204 | 23.5% | $187,000 |
| St. James | 3,916 | $53,453 | 19.4% | $142,000 |
| Doolittle | 561 | $40,417 | 14.3% | $119,200 |
| Newburg | 331 | $24,911 | 44.4% | $57,500 |
| Edgar Springs | 224 | $51,771 | 14.7% | $95,000 |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Phelps County is located in Missouri with a total population of 45,194. It is the 23rd most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Phelps County is 35.8 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Phelps County is $58,396. This is 17% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 28% 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 3.9%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $206,500. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 61.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Phelps County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.9% of the population. Asian residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.7% vs 2.1%).
Education
32.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as 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 90.0%. Notably, 15.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Phelps 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 Phelps County, Missouri?
Phelps County has a population of 45,194, making it the 23rd most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Phelps County?
The median household income in Phelps County is $58,396 with a poverty rate of 16.8%.
How many cities are in Phelps County, Missouri?
Phelps County contains 5 Census-designated places.