Population 17,615 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in DeSoto
Household size in DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.52 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.49 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.06 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in DeSoto has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Locally, though, the typical household here is bigger than in the St. Louis area overall, where it has 2.46 people. Household size has dropped from 2.65 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 39.5 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 40.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.3 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.1, the median age in DeSoto is the same as the national median, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.7, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the north, 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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 11.5% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in DeSoto than nationally: 14.1%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 3.7 points from 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 DeSoto
Renters in DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 28.3% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.5% | 30.1% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.4% | 31.1% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.5% | 29.6% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
DeSoto is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.0 points, as it has nationally.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 9.6% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 10.1% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in DeSoto than nationally: 6.7%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 points, as it has nationally.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in DeSoto was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are newer than in the St. Louis area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1975. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $709 | $825 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $695 | $920 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $772 | $1,010 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,101 | $1,239 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$391 | +$414 | +$383 | +$606 |
A typical rental in DeSoto costs $1,101 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $391 a month since 2006–10, up 55%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the east.
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 DeSoto
Bachelor's degrees in DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 30.3% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 32.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 34.9% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 38.5% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +8.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in DeSoto have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 17.6%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.9 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.1% | 88.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.9% | 90.5% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.9% | 92.1% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 93.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in DeSoto is a bit above the national rate: 90.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in the St. Louis area overall (93.6%). The share with a diploma has risen 10.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 DeSoto
| Period | DeSoto | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −3.4 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in DeSoto has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 6.6 points, mirroring the country. 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).
DeSoto compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto | 2.56 | 40.1 | 14.1% | 21.5% | 6.7% | 1980 | $1,101 | 17.6% | 90.8% | 3.3% |
| Olympian Village | 2.53 | 42.1 | 11.1% | 11.3% | 6.8% | 1987 | $1,114 | 10.8% | 90.4% | 1.2% |
| Papin | 2.78 | 41.2 | 11.0% | 5.1% | 7.5% | 1995 | $1,446 | 25.3% | 91.7% | 1.7% |
| Ware | 3.50 | 31.7 | 6.0% | 6.2% | 3.6% | 1999 | $1,018 | 23.1% | 97.0% | 1.8% |
| Flucom | 2.85 | 40.1 | 12.1% | 6.0% | 8.8% | 1995 | $1,373 | 26.4% | 93.1% | 2.1% |
| Fertile | 3.00 | 34.5 | 4.6% | 8.5% | 20.3% | 1992 | $476 | 3.7% | 86.6% | 2.7% |
| Melzo | 2.60 | 48.1 | 21.6% | 16.9% | 7.4% | 1985 | $1,092 | 9.6% | 79.7% | 5.8% |
| Plattin | 2.55 | 46.6 | 11.3% | 10.9% | 5.9% | 1987 | $1,248 | 18.3% | 92.5% | 3.1% |
| Frumet | 2.18 | 40.2 | 5.1% | 12.3% | 12.8% | 1985 | $978 | 12.5% | 88.5% | 0.2% |
| Blackwell | 2.76 | 41.0 | 10.8% | 3.4% | 22.8% | 1993 | $440 | 9.6% | 87.3% | 2.7% |
| Hillsboro | 2.90 | 39.9 | 9.3% | 14.8% | 9.6% | 1991 | $979 | 19.8% | 93.2% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Steamboat Springs, CO · Verdigris, OK · Taylorville, IL · Fate, TX · Summerfield, NC · Streator, IL · Firestone, CO · Fitzgerald, GA · Sterling, CO · Fletcher, NC
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 DeSoto. 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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