Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Joplin, MO Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

52,593

Median Agei

38.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

81.2%42,720

Hispanic/Latino

6.3%3,334

Two or More

6.1%3,185

Black

2.9%1,548

Asian

2.2%1,144

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.6%321

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.4%232

Other

0.2%109

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

7.3%2,625

High School Diploma

25.1%9,052

Some College (<1 yr)

9.7%3,487

Some College (1+ yr)

15.3%5,513

Associate's Degree

6.9%2,478

Bachelor's Degree

18.3%6,605

Master's Degree

5.6%2,020

Professional Degree

1.6%569

Doctorate

1.1%402

HS or Higher

91%

BA or Higher

26.7%

Graduate+

8.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$168,300

Median Renti

$962

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

53.4%12,128

Renter-Occupied

46.6%10,582

Total Units

25,398

Homeownership

53.4%

Vacancy Rate

10.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

7.7%938

$50K–$100K

15.3%1,850

$100K–$150K

18.2%2,204

$150K–$200K

19.1%2,319

$200K–$300K

22.4%2,718

$300K–$500K

11.3%1,365

$500K–$1M

5.2%627

$1M+

0.9%107

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,121

$500–$750

1,642

$750–$1,000

2,887

$1,000–$1,250

2,313

$1,250–$1,500

1,356

$1,500–$2,000

783

$2,000+

175

Year Built

2020 or later

0.9%237

2010–2019

19.5%4,962

2000–2009

12.2%3,108

1990–1999

13.2%3,356

1980–1989

7.8%1,973

1970–1979

9.3%2,364

1960–1969

8.2%2,089

1950–1959

9.2%2,344

1940–1949

4.8%1,213

1939 or earlier

14.8%3,752

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

53.8%12,222

Electricity

44%9,985

Bottled/LP Gas

1%237

No Fuel

0.5%123

Solar

0.4%97

Wood

0.2%46

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$52,097

Mean Household Incomei

$73,566

Per Capita Incomei

$32,024

Poverty Ratei

16.4%

Unemploymenti

5.3%

Labor Forcei

26,003

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.9%1,115

$10K–$15K

6.8%1,549

$15K–$20K

6.6%1,494

$20K–$25K

4.5%1,032

$25K–$30K

4.9%1,112

$30K–$35K

5%1,129

$35K–$40K

5.2%1,185

$40K–$45K

6%1,352

$45K–$50K

4.3%971

$50K–$60K

7.5%1,693

$60K–$75K

11.6%2,628

$75K–$100K

11.1%2,524

$100K–$125K

8.9%2,014

$125K–$150K

3.9%884

$150K–$200K

3.6%825

$200K+

5.3%1,203

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,338

Residentsi

2,072

Avg. Tenant Renti

$318/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

59 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing76 homes89% occupied$346/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers164 homes74% occupied$418/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8380 homes90% occupied$273/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC66 homes98% occupied$339/mo rent

811/PRAC51 homes99% occupied$259/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $52,097/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

73.3%

Very low income$16K–$26K/yr

22.4%

Low income$26K–$42K/yr

3.6%

Moderate / aboveOver $42K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

71.7% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

15% of subsidized households are minority

31.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

43.4% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2,0653.9%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

309

Guatemala

227

India

161

Germany

101

Canada

Philippines

United Kingdom

Korea

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

3,362(8.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

88.3%Insured

11.7%Uninsured