West Plains city, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Plains city is a small city located in Missouri. The total population is 12,341. It ranks as the 75th most populous out of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Plains city is 34.2 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Plains city is $39,897. This is 42% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 49% lower. The poverty rate stands at 31.0%. This is 145% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $158,700. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 48.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Plains city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.7%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

17.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 85.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Plains city, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.