Southwest City, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Southwest City, Missouri had a total population of 992, the 376th largest town in Missouri, with a median household income of $44,625, which is 37% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 37% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 3.9% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x.
Southwest City Quick Facts
How Southwest City 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 | 845 | 992 | +17.4% |
| Median household income | $38,750 | $44,625 | +15.2% |
| Median home value | $67,200 | $91,100 | +35.6% |
How Southwest City 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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Southwest City Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities 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 |
| 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 |
Cities Similar to Southwest City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant City | 959 | $45,192 | $68,200 | 9.6% | 27.7% |
| Maysville | 947 | $44,271 | $154,000 | 13.0% | 18.4% |
| Clarkton | 958 | $46,333 | $47,000 | 4.6% | 31.7% |
| Stover | 977 | $48,438 | $151,500 | 13.1% | 16.3% |
| Edmundson | 975 | $49,213 | $92,900 | 17.1% | 28.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 992, Southwest City'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
Southwest City is a small community located in Missouri, within McDonald County. The total population is 992. It ranks as the 376th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Southwest City is 28.2 years. This is 28% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 36.0% of the population under 18, Southwest City has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Southwest City is $44,625. This is 37% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.5%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $91,100. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Southwest City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 55.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Southwest City is Hispanic or Latino, making up 66.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 25.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (25.2%) is well below the state average of 76.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (66.6% vs 5.2%).
Education
3.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 88% 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 63.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Southwest City, 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.
Free data download: Get all Missouri city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Southwest City, Missouri?
Southwest City, Missouri has a population of 992 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Southwest City, MO?
The median household income in Southwest City is $44,625, which is 45% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Southwest City, MO?
The poverty rate in Southwest City is 15.5%. This means approximately 154 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Southwest City, Missouri?
Southwest City's population is 25.2% White, 0.0% Black, 66.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Southwest City, MO?
The median home value in Southwest City is $91,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
How educated is Southwest City, Missouri?
3.9% of adults (25+) in Southwest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.