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West Plains, MO

Full City Profile · Missouri

2.7 /5.0
C+ Fair
12,341 Population 927/sq mi density
$39,897 Median Income $23,486 per capita
$158,700 Home Value $222,396 Zillow
$762 Median Rent 29.4% income on rent
56°F Avg Temperature 255 sunny days/yr
423 Violent Crime/100K 5,772 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.9 / 5.0
$39,897 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$158,700 home value, $762/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
423 violent crimes/100K (11% above avg)
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
17.7% bachelor's degree or higher

West Plains, MO

At a Glance

Median Income
$39,897
47% below
$23,486 per capita
Home Value
$158,700
44% below
Zillow: $222,396
Median Rent
$762/mo
34% below
29.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
423/100K
11% above
5,772/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
17.7%
47% below
85.3% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
31% below
22.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.5%
20% above
24.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F
255 sunny days/yr

How West Plains Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows West Plains's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
53%
Home Value
56%
Rent
66%
Poverty
179%
Bachelor's
53%
Unemployment
69%
Crime
111%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is West Plains a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.7 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

West Plains residents earn a median household income of $39,897 , which is 47% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $23,486. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 22.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in West Plains is $158,700 , 44% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $222,396. Median rent is $762/month, with 29.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.

Safety & Crime

West Plains reports 423 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 11% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 5,772/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

17.7% of adults in West Plains hold a bachelor's degree or higher (47% below the national average). 85.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

West Plains has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C). Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 255 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 44.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Data Overview

People

Population12,341
Median Age34.2 yrs
Density927/mi²
Male / Female47% / 54%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.1%

Economy

C+
Median Income$39,897
Per Capita$23,486
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty22.2%

Housing

A
Home Value$158,700
Rent$762
Ownership48.2%
Zillow$222,396
Housing Units5,614
Rent Burden29.4%

Crime

F
Violent423/100K
Property5,772/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault326/100K
Burglary1,026/100K

Health

Obesity38.5%
Diabetes12.9%
Smoking24.0%
Heart Disease7.4%

Climate

Avg Temp56°F
Sunny Days255/yr
Rain44.5 in/yr
AQI41 (Good)
Elevation1,007 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+17.7%
High School+85.3%
Graduate+10.4%
School Score5.5/10

Community

2024 VoteR 77% / D 22%
Commute17 min
Broadband83.5%
EV Stations4

Did You Know?

West Plains was founded in 1832.
The median home in West Plains was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Sharp County Regional (36 miles).
20.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.