Population 20,151 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Benton County
Household size in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Benton County run small, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.25, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the southwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.3 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.5 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.0 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Benton County skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 50.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Missouri county is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Benton County: 8.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Benton County
Renters in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.2% of households in Benton County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 48.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the center. Of Missouri's 115 counties, only two have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.4% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 38.3% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 30.3% of the housing in Benton County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.7 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Benton County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in Missouri as a whole, where the median home dates to 1978. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $616 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $597 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $653 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $731 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$114 | +$383 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Benton County costs $731 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $114 a month since 2006–10, up 19%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Benton County
Bachelor's degrees in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.8% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Benton County: 14.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.1 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Benton County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Missouri counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.0% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.4% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Benton County have finished high school as nationally: 88.8%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Missouri as a whole (91.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 8.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Benton County runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Benton County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | 2.40 | 52.0 | 8.3% | 16.2% | 30.3% | 1984 | $731 | 14.8% | 88.8% | 3.9% |
| Henry County | 2.46 | 43.2 | 12.5% | 25.0% | 14.4% | 1975 | $819 | 16.6% | 90.4% | 4.3% |
| Morgan County | 2.53 | 44.4 | 5.0% | 20.3% | 29.9% | 1982 | $794 | 16.3% | 79.6% | 3.2% |
| Miller County | 2.62 | 41.6 | 9.9% | 26.1% | 17.1% | 1986 | $751 | 19.7% | 88.3% | 5.2% |
| Bates County | 2.61 | 41.7 | 9.1% | 25.1% | 14.9% | 1977 | $809 | 15.0% | 90.2% | 6.4% |
| Osage County | 2.54 | 40.9 | 6.5% | 20.6% | 20.9% | 1982 | $700 | 24.8% | 90.9% | 1.9% |
| Linn County | 2.29 | 44.8 | 7.5% | 18.9% | 16.0% | 1981 | $739 | 22.9% | 94.5% | 4.2% |
| Gasconade County | 2.42 | 46.0 | 10.1% | 19.1% | 18.7% | 1976 | $797 | 17.3% | 90.4% | 3.1% |
| Anderson County | 2.46 | 41.9 | 9.9% | 21.1% | 10.7% | 1963 | $862 | 13.3% | 89.2% | 4.5% |
| Franklin County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 10.7% | 23.5% | 8.0% | 1983 | $947 | 23.7% | 90.5% | 4.3% |
| Coffey County | 2.33 | 43.7 | 10.4% | 24.1% | 10.9% | 1969 | $822 | 19.9% | 92.4% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lafayette County, WI · Camp County, TX · Carbon County, MT · Carroll County, IL · Cass County, IL · Lee County, VA · Langlade County, WI · Lampasas County, TX · Lamoille County, VT · Lajas Municipio, PR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Benton County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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