Population 16,824 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cooper County
Household size in Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Cooper County has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Missouri. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.43, even as the national average fell.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.2 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.6 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Cooper County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.2, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Cooper County (10.0%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Missouri. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.5 points, 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 Cooper County
Renters in Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.3% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.3% of households in Cooper County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About four in ten owners (40.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the east. The renter share has fallen 3.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.3% of the housing in Cooper 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 edged up 0.6 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Cooper County leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $589 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $638 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $668 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $783 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$195 | +$383 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cooper County pays $783 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $195 a month since 2006–10, up 33%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the north.
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 Cooper County
Bachelor's degrees in Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.6% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cooper County: 24.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.0% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.3% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Cooper County is close to the national rate: 90.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 7.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Cooper County
| Period | Cooper County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cooper County runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Cooper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper County | 2.50 | 41.6 | 10.0% | 24.3% | 14.3% | 1973 | $783 | 24.8% | 90.6% | 4.2% |
| Boone County | 2.39 | 35.5 | 9.4% | 42.3% | 6.9% | 1991 | $1,131 | 52.0% | 95.0% | 4.1% |
| Lafayette County | 2.62 | 41.8 | 8.4% | 24.3% | 11.2% | 1977 | $969 | 26.6% | 92.4% | 3.2% |
| Montgomery County | 2.43 | 44.4 | 12.5% | 26.6% | 18.7% | 1978 | $842 | 17.6% | 88.5% | 3.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.42 | 38.5 | 12.8% | 40.9% | 9.1% | 1971 | $1,337 | 33.3% | 91.3% | 4.6% |
| Lincoln County | 2.80 | 38.6 | 12.4% | 21.0% | 4.5% | 1996 | $1,032 | 18.8% | 90.5% | 3.8% |
| Johnson County | 2.57 | 39.9 | 7.6% | 31.5% | 5.2% | 1988 | $1,613 | 57.6% | 96.5% | 3.1% |
| Jersey County | 2.54 | 43.5 | 9.8% | 19.5% | 19.6% | 1973 | $921 | 22.6% | 93.8% | 3.0% |
| Douglas County | 2.26 | 35.2 | 7.6% | 49.9% | 8.6% | 1983 | $1,161 | 51.9% | 95.8% | 4.5% |
| Madison County | 2.41 | 40.9 | 11.1% | 25.8% | 8.0% | 1974 | $1,069 | 32.6% | 94.1% | 4.5% |
| Shawnee County | 2.36 | 40.6 | 12.1% | 33.2% | 8.2% | 1972 | $1,100 | 31.1% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Crawford County, IL · Taylor County, WV · Teller County, CO · Dallam County, TX · Teton County, WY · Texas County, MO · Texas County, OK · Cross County, AR · Crook County, OR · Trinity County, CA
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 Cooper 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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