Joplin, MO Local Data & Statistics

State: MO

Total population: 52,593 Household income: $52,097 Rent: $962

Overview

Total population

52,593

Rent

$962

Year built

1985

Household income

$52,097

Per capita income

$32,024

Poverty rate

16.9%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Missouri

Total population

52,593

Adults over 25

36,002

Total households

22,710

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$52,097

Per capita income

$32,024

Poverty rate

16.9%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Rent over 30% of income

45.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$962

Year built

1985

Households that rent

46.6%

Households that own

53.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

82.8%

Black

3.1%

Asian

2.2%

Two or more races

8.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

6.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

10%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

32.6%

High school graduate or GED

32.4%

Some college or associate degree

8.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

26.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Joplin, MO with: Missouri United States

Joplin, MO

Total population52,593

Rent$962

Year built1985

Household income$52,097

Per capita income$32,024

Poverty rate16.9%

Unemployment rate3.3%

Missouri State

Total population6,191,814

Rent$1,033

Year built1978

Household income$70,702

Per capita income$39,695

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityJoplin, MO	StateMissouri	CountryUnited States
Total population	52,593	6,191,814	334,922,499
Rent	$962	$1,033	$1,413
Year built	1985	1978	1980
Household income	$52,097	$70,702	$80,734
Per capita income	$32,024	$39,695	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.9%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Joplin, MO, Missouri and United States →

Summary for Joplin, MO

Joplin is located in Missouri.

Rent & Income

In Joplin, the typical monthly rent is $962 and the typical household income is $52,097. Rent here is lower than in both Missouri and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 16.9%, which is higher than in both Missouri and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 46.6% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 45.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 26.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is lower than both Missouri and the national rate.

Joplin, MO — Rent vs Household Income

Joplin, MO — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Joplin, MO compares in Missouri (14 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$962	2 / 14	from lower rent	$898 – $1,443
Household income	$52,097	13 / 14	from higher income	$49,311 – $110,443
Poverty rate	16.9%	9 / 14	from lower poverty	5.4% – 20.6%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	8 / 14	from lower unemployment	2.3% – 4%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Missouri with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Joplin, MO

Rent

For typical rent levels, Joplin is ranked 2nd out of 14 major areas in Missouri. Statewide values span from $898 in St. Joseph, MO to $1,443 in O'Fallon, MO.

Household income

Looking at household income, Joplin places 13th out of 14 significant areas. Incomes across Missouri range between $49,311 in Springfield, MO and $110,443 in O'Fallon, MO.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Joplin ranks 9th out of 14 large places. Statewide rates vary from 5.4% in O'Fallon, MO to 20.6% in 29510, MO.

Unemployment rate

Joplin places 8th among 14 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.3% to 4%.

💰 Rent in Joplin, MO (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $962 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Joplin, MO

Annual Household Income: $52,097

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Joplin, MO

Estimated Rate: 16.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Joplin, MO

In Joplin, MO, households that rent: 10,582 (46.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	10,582	46.6%
Owner-Occupied	12,128	53.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Joplin, MO

In Joplin, MO, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,833 (45.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,833	45.7%
Other renter households	5,749	54.3%
Total renter households	10,582	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Joplin, MO

Less than High School: 11,743 people (32.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 11,677 people (32.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,986 people (8.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 9,596 people (26.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 36,002

📊 Unemployment Rate in Joplin, MO

Estimated Rate: 3.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Paramount, CA52,546 Novato, CA52,689 Kyle, TX52,439 Grand Island, NE52,761 Battle Creek, MI52,392 Placentia, CA52,384 Elyria, OH52,833 Winter Haven, FL52,846 Normal, IL52,908 Methuen Town, MA53,043

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.