Cooper County, Missouri Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Cooper County, Missouri, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Cooper County, Missouri. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Cooper County, Missouri. The estimated population of Cooper County, Missouri is 17,397 people, with a median age of 38.3.

We can look at the total population in Cooper County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
17,397
 -0.71% -1.27%
2020
17,522
 -0.78% -
2019
17,660
+0.22%
-
2018
17,622
+0.01%
-
2017
17,620
 - -

Population of Cooper County, Missouri by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
87.4%
88.2%
 -0.91%
Black/African American
5.8%
6.5%
 -10.77%
Native
0.3%
0.3%
 0.00%
Hispanic
2%
1.8%
 +11.11%
Asian
0.2%
0.3%
 -33.33%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%
Two Or More Races
3.9%
2.6%
 +50.00%
Other
0.4%
0.2%
 +100.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Cooper County, Missouri by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 38.3 -1.29% 37.1 -0.8% 40.4 -1.46%
2020 38.8 +0.26% 37.4 +1.63% 41 -1.44%
2019 38.7 -0.77% 36.8 0% 41.6 -0.72%
2018 39 -0.51% 36.8 +2.22% 41.9 -1.64%
2017 39.2 - 36 - 42.6 -

The median age of Cooper County, Missouri gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,142 -9.09% 1,003 +0.27% 1,041 1,004
10 to 19 1,108 +7.66% 995 +8.12% 1,191 1,075
20 to 29 1,567 -11.68% 923 +14.42% 1,389 1,058
30 to 39 1,249 +2% 1,007 +2.29% 1,273 1,024
40 to 49 1,134 -17.75% 960 -13.27% 945 838
50 to 59 1,232 -8.19% 1,217 -8.49% 1,130 1,115
60 to 69 967 +13.56% 953 +18.47% 1,100 1,133
70+ 868 +8.36% 1,295 -12.41% 941 1,140

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Cooper County, Missouri is $55,711.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Cooper County.

  • Under 25
    $44,741.00
  • 25 to 44
    $65,972.00
  • 45 to 64
    $68,111.00
  • 65 and over
    $34,597.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Cooper County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Cooper County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Cooper County, Missouri is currently $68,265.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.38% of households in Cooper County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Cooper County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    21.15%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.63%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.19%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.37%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    15.60%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3.69%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.38%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Cooper County is $24,944.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Cooper County by the total population of Cooper County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Cooper County, Missouri, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Cooper County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    9.28%
  • Bachelor's degree
    25.35%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.35%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    50.60%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.42%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Cooper County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Cooper County over the age of 16 is 13,953.

Of those people, a total of 55.90% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Cooper County is 53.00%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 867 44.90% 22.10%
20 to 24 years 1,245 83.10% 4.70%
25 to 29 years 1,202 70.50% 10.10%
30 to 34 years 1,048 69.70% 5.60%
35 to 44 years 2,059 71.40% 5.60%
45 to 54 years 2,056 70.60% 0.90%
55 to 59 years 1,162 73.60% 4.40%
60 to 64 years 1,231 48.40% 0.70%
65 to 74 years 1,774 20.60% 2.20%
75 years and over 1,309 4.70% 1.60%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Cooper County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 12,383 56.40% 4.20%
Black or African American 949 37.30% 3.70%
American Indian and Alaska Native 55 65.50% 0.00%
Asian 43 69.80% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 65 24.60% 0.00%
Two or more races 458 82.50% 27.00%
Hispanic or Latino 241 71.80% 34.70%
Not Hispanic or Latino 12,284 56.30% 4.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Cooper County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Cooper County is 7,394, with median earnings of $34,264.00.

Women in Cooper County, Missouri earning approximately 84.20% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 7,394 $34,264.00
Male 3,713 $38,196.00
Female 3,681 $32,158.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 821 $52,866.00
Business and Financial 351 $52,390.00
Computer and Mathematical 80 $51,944.00
Architecture and Engineering 43 $66,641.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 35 $45,625.00
Community and Social Service 121 $39,196.00
Legal 17 $29,792.00
Educational and Library 416 $39,500.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 90 $35,086.00
Healthcare Practitioners 595 $37,413.00
Healthcare Support 198 $25,000.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 115 $29,496.00
Law Enforcement 114 $35,250.00
Food Preparation and Serving 377 $16,026.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 430 $14,630.00
Personal Care and Service 233 $20,184.00
Sales 480 $35,326.00
Office and Administrative Support 895 $30,843.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 120 $16,667.00
Construction and Extraction 526 $35,789.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 339 $33,512.00
Production 420 $44,167.00
Transportation and Material Moving 309 $48,319.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 485 $54,213.00 336 $51,875.00
Business and Financial 129 $69,844.00 222 $45,208.00
Computer and Mathematical 58 $51,111.00 22 $68,750.00
Architecture and Engineering 40 $66,875.00 3 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 17 $107,875.00 18 $40,313.00
Community and Social Service 28 $31,875.00 93 $39,554.00
Legal 0 $0.00 17 $29,792.00
Educational and Library 75 $51,875.00 341 $35,078.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 36 $12,250.00 54 $36,121.00
Healthcare Practitioners 48 $88,889.00 547 $36,894.00
Healthcare Support 11 $31,528.00 187 $20,750.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 54 $47,917.00 61 $28,811.00
Law Enforcement 87 $34,769.00 27 $47,639.00
Food Preparation and Serving 127 $15,701.00 250 $16,538.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 287 $21,563.00 143 $10,602.00
Personal Care and Service 35 $22,614.00 198 $20,147.00
Sales 234 $50,417.00 246 $24,423.00
Office and Administrative Support 217 $31,206.00 678 $30,000.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 109 $17,049.00 11 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 526 $35,789.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 332 $33,095.00 7 $0.00
Production 319 $47,679.00 101 $30,417.00
Transportation and Material Moving 275 $49,784.00 34 $11,667.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 6,091 households in Cooper County, with an average household size of 2.61 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 4,163 families in Cooper County with an average family size of 3.17 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 3,096 287 780 1,928
Average Household Size 3.19 3.75 3.39 1.17
Total Families 3,096 287 780 0
Average Household Size 3.15 3.26 3.21 0

Poverty

Of the 4,163 families in Cooper County, 10.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Cooper County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 7,303 housing units in Cooper County, Missouri.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 6,091 83.40%
Vacant 1,212 16.60%

17.72% of the total 7,303 housing units in Cooper County are rental units. This is approximately 1,294 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,612 are occupied by the owner - or 63.15% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Cooper County is $675.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Cooper County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    185
  • Less than $500
    225
  • $500 to $999
    937
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    125
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    2
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    5
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Cooper County is $151,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Cooper County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    337
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,028
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    912
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    813
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    950
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    425
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    141
  • $1,000,000 or more
    6

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Cooper County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Cooper County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,557
  • 1940 to 1949
    328
  • 1950 to 1959
    602
  • 1960 to 1969
    786
  • 1970 to 1979
    985
  • 1980 to 1989
    816
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,008
  • 2000 to 2009
    929
  • 2010 to 2013
    292
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Cooper County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    314
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,809
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,250
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,718

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Cooper County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Cooper County that commute to work in a particular way.

28.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Cooper County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    395
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    945
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    806
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    412
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    807
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    408
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,222
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    344
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    281
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    720
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    316
  • 90 or more minutes
    250

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Cooper County, Missouri in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Cooper County, Missouri

We have data for 17 places in Cooper County, Missouri. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.