Pulaski County, Missouri Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Missouri. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Pulaski County, Missouri. The estimated population of Pulaski County, Missouri is 53,460 people, with a median age of 28.1.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
53,460
+2.1%
+0.62%
2020
52,359
 -0.13% -
2019
52,425
 -0.32% -
2018
52,591
 -1.02% -
2017
53,132
 - -

Population of Pulaski 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
69.1%
69.6%
 -0.72%
Black/African American
10.5%
11.7%
 -10.26%
Native
0.9%
0.7%
 +28.57%
Hispanic
11.4%
10.9%
 +4.59%
Asian
2.6%
2.5%
 +4.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.5%
0.2%
 +150.00%
Two Or More Races
4.7%
4.3%
 +9.30%
Other
0.4%
0%
 0.00%

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 Pulaski 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 28.1 +1.08% 26.2 +0.77% 31.4 -0.95%
2020 27.8 +0.72% 26 +2.36% 31.7 +0.63%
2019 27.6 -0.36% 25.4 +0.4% 31.5 0%
2018 27.7 +0.36% 25.3 +0.8% 31.5 +0.64%
2017 27.6 - 25.1 - 31.3 -

The median age of Pulaski 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 3,859 +1.28% 3,253 -13.47% 3,885 2,827
10 to 19 6,004 +0.18% 3,608 +17.7% 6,013 4,257
20 to 29 8,265 -5.66% 3,977 -0.93% 7,803 3,895
30 to 39 4,456 -2.6% 3,559 +8.54% 4,332 3,870
40 to 49 2,487 +18.1% 2,598 -9.55% 2,961 2,351
50 to 59 2,475 -14% 2,345 -19.45% 2,140 1,902
60 to 69 1,714 +23.45% 1,736 +25.4% 2,151 2,197
70+ 1,101 +4.26% 1,695 +2.57% 1,140 1,736

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Pulaski County, Missouri is $59,252.00.

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 Pulaski County.

  • Under 25
    $32,906.00
  • 25 to 44
    $63,232.00
  • 45 to 64
    $66,446.00
  • 65 and over
    $44,268.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Missouri is currently $71,647.00.

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.

2.71% of households in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    18.65%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    22.78%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    20.53%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.41%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    15.66%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.26%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.71%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Pulaski County is $25,957.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Pulaski 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 Pulaski 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
    16.14%
  • Bachelor's degree
    30.80%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    9.69%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    41.92%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.45%

Employment

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

The total population of Pulaski County over the age of 16 is 42,963.

Of those people, a total of 70.70% 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 Pulaski County is 44.30%.

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 6,485 73.50% 4.80%
20 to 24 years 6,515 87.00% 4.80%
25 to 29 years 5,183 88.20% 10.20%
30 to 34 years 4,640 85.20% 5.10%
35 to 44 years 6,464 78.70% 5.60%
45 to 54 years 4,664 78.20% 4.50%
55 to 59 years 1,788 68.50% 1.20%
60 to 64 years 2,367 36.20% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 2,816 18.90% 6.20%
75 years and over 2,041 2.50% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Pulaski 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 32,233 68.80% 4.00%
Black or African American 5,034 82.60% 13.20%
American Indian and Alaska Native 457 90.80% 24.70%
Asian 1,350 57.90% 1.20%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 211 76.30% 0.00%
Other 964 67.50% 25.10%
Two or more races 2,714 74.20% 12.70%
Hispanic or Latino 4,503 83.90% 12.90%
Not Hispanic or Latino 30,098 67.60% 4.00%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County is 19,043, with median earnings of $32,267.00.

Women in Pulaski County, Missouri earning approximately 84.90% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 19,043 $32,267.00
Male 11,369 $34,328.00
Female 7,674 $29,153.00

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 1,384 $47,593.00
Business and Financial 300 $50,980.00
Computer and Mathematical 420 $74,324.00
Architecture and Engineering 427 $42,927.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 113 $43,737.00
Community and Social Service 384 $43,527.00
Legal 117 $68,385.00
Educational and Library 1,518 $36,755.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 98 $26,447.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,265 $51,895.00
Healthcare Support 464 $12,385.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 163 $39,076.00
Law Enforcement 653 $38,760.00
Food Preparation and Serving 2,006 $17,743.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 603 $20,659.00
Personal Care and Service 243 $15,458.00
Sales 1,480 $24,178.00
Office and Administrative Support 2,211 $30,008.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 20 $29,000.00
Construction and Extraction 1,440 $47,014.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 422 $47,627.00
Production 1,589 $21,224.00
Transportation and Material Moving 706 $21,224.00

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 919 $49,681.00 465 $43,860.00
Business and Financial 154 $80,357.00 146 $47,794.00
Computer and Mathematical 406 $73,986.00 14 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 374 $43,766.00 53 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 99 $43,860.00 14 $0.00
Community and Social Service 194 $46,731.00 190 $42,000.00
Legal 78 $82,733.00 39 $41,597.00
Educational and Library 868 $45,360.00 650 $31,233.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 42 $17,667.00 56 $35,000.00
Healthcare Practitioners 279 $34,185.00 986 $56,091.00
Healthcare Support 133 $12,122.00 331 $16,250.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 129 $38,207.00 34 $0.00
Law Enforcement 405 $43,283.00 248 $36,875.00
Food Preparation and Serving 1,533 $18,055.00 473 $16,557.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 270 $26,000.00 333 $17,153.00
Personal Care and Service 63 $7,188.00 180 $20,530.00
Sales 629 $31,563.00 851 $16,012.00
Office and Administrative Support 568 $28,824.00 1,643 $30,147.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 20 $29,000.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 1,417 $47,413.00 23 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 422 $47,627.00 0 $0.00
Production 1,117 $26,671.00 472 $16,689.00
Transportation and Material Moving 410 $30,268.00 296 $13,640.00

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 15,506 households in Pulaski County, with an average household size of 2.84 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 10,483 families in Pulaski County with an average family size of 3.45 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 8,519 619 1,345 5,023
Average Household Size 3.47 2.62 4.6 1.34
Total Families 8,519 619 1,345 0
Average Household Size 3.43 2.26 4.17 0

Poverty

Of the 10,483 families in Pulaski County, 11.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Pulaski 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 19,280 housing units in Pulaski County, Missouri.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 15,506 80.43%
Vacant 3,774 19.57%

35.20% of the total 19,280 housing units in Pulaski County are rental units. This is approximately 6,787 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 8,210 are occupied by the owner - or 42.58% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Pulaski County is $1,028.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Pulaski 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
    509
  • Less than $500
    468
  • $500 to $999
    2,743
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    2,905
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    671
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Pulaski County is $160,000.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    999
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,193
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,372
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2,340
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,658
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    433
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    213
  • $1,000,000 or more
    2

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    669
  • 1940 to 1949
    347
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,070
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,839
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,675
  • 1980 to 1989
    2,220
  • 1990 to 1999
    3,122
  • 2000 to 2009
    4,321
  • 2010 to 2013
    2,962
  • 2014 or later
    55

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 Pulaski County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    695
  • 1 vehicle available
    5,109
  • 2 vehicles available
    5,923
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,779

Commuting to Work

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

18.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Pulaski 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
    3,565
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    4,854
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,876
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    4,205
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    3,630
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    1,467
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    3,441
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    442
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    327
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,449
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    604
  • 90 or more minutes
    242

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Missouri

We have data for 11 places in Pulaski County, Missouri. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.