West Plains, Missouri Population 2024

12,864

West Plains is a city located in Howell County Missouri. West Plains has a 2024 population of 12,864. It is also the county seat of Howell County. West Plains is currently growing at a rate of 1.32% annually and its population has increased by 5.51% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 12,192 in 2020.

The average household income in West Plains is $53,695 with a poverty rate of 33.77%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in West Plains is 34.6 years, 33.6 years for males, and 35.8 years for females.

West Plains Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of West Plains was:

  • White: 96.33%
  • Two or more races: 2.44%
  • Black or African American: 0.54%
  • Native American: 0.36%
  • Asian: 0.33%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
  • Other race: 0%
Land Area (mi²)
13.3 sq mi
Density (mi²)
969.60/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
5.51% (672)
The current population of West Plains, Missouri is 12,864 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 12,192.

West Plains, Missouri Population 2024

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White11,80196.33%
Two or more races2992.44%
Black or African American660.54%
Native American440.36%
Asian400.33%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%
Other race00%

White

Two or more races

Black or African American

Native American

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Other race

West Plains Population by Race

West Plains Population Pyramid 2024

West Plains Median Age

34.6

Total

33.6

Male

35.8

Female

West Plains Adults

There are 9,153 adults, (2,118 of whom are seniors) in West Plains.

West Plains Age Dependency

74.1

Age Dependency Ratio

30.1

Old Age Dependency Ratio

44

Child Dependency Ratio

West Plains Sex Ratio

Female6,56253.57%
Male5,68846.43%

West Plains Population by Age

West Plains Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All4,8742.4147.552.5
Non Family2,3761.235.664.4
Married1,6273.5570.129.9
Female6643.7436.963.1
Male2073.1339.660.4

3.45

Average Family Size

2.41

Average Household Size

47.5%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

West Plains Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

West Plains Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

West Plains Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 100%.

West Plains Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$32,686

Average Earnings

$37,236

Average Male

$26,334

Average Female

West Plains Earnings by Educational Attainment

West Plains Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

West Plains Language

96.99% of West Plains residents speak only English, while 3.01% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 1.82% of the population.

West Plains Language

West Plains Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White11,4023,82533.55%
Multiple29410335.03%
Black5454100%
Hispanic1919100%

33.77%

Overall Poverty Rate

28.29%

Male Poverty Rate

38.55%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in West Plains

The race most likely to be in poverty in West Plains is Black, with 100% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in West Plains is White, with 33.55% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 13.15%. Among those working part-time, it was 32.72%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 42.66%.

West Plains Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade47.84%
High School35.5%
Some College29.06%
Bachelors or Greater4.25%

West Plains Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Male Unemployed68.91%
Female Unemployed54.33%
Female Employed28.08%
Male Employed10.46%

West Plains Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

West Plains Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

West Plains Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

41.2%

Overall Marriage Rate

43.3%

Male Marriage Rate

39.3%

Female Marriage Rate

West Plains Married by Age and Sex

male

female

West Plains Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

West Plains Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

West Plains Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

743

Number of Veterans

719

Male Veterans

24

Female Veterans

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West Plains Veterans by War

count

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West Plains Veterans by Age

count

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West Plains Veterans by Race

West Plains Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

4.76%

Veteran Poverty Rate

63.64%

Veteran Disability Rate

West Plains Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

56.1%

Labor Force Participation

53.5%

Employment Rate

4.7%

Unemployment Rate

West Plains Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

West Plains Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

West Plains Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

60.02%

Born in West Plains

99.62%

Native Born

0.38%

Foreign Born

0.29%

Non Citizen

0.08%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

99.62% of West Plains residents were born in the United States, with 60.02% having been born in Missouri. 0.29% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Europe.

West Plains Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

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Year
Population
Growth
Growth Rate
202913,7041681.24%
202813,5361681.26%
202713,3681681.27%
202613,2001681.29%
202513,0321681.31%
202412,8641681.32%
202312,6961681.34%
202212,5282692.19%
202112,259670.55%
202012,192-102-0.83%
201912,294360.29%
201812,258220.18%
201712,23650.04%
201612,231270.22%
201512,204-10-0.08%
201412,214480.39%
201312,166-65-0.53%
201212,231750.62%
201112,1561030.85%
201012,05300%
200010,8661,95321.91%
19908,9131,17215.14%
19807,74184812.3%
19706,8931,05718.11%
19605,83691818.67%
19504,91889222.16%
19404,02669120.72%
19303,3351574.94%
19203,1782649.06%
19102,914120.41%
19002,902-10,802-78.82%
showing: 31 rows

West Plains Population by Year