Population 23,701 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McDonald County
Household size in McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.83 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.75 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.83 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in McDonald County average 2.83 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the northeast. Few Missouri counties have larger households: only seven of 115.
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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.4 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.9 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.3 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 39.3, the median age in McDonald County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.3, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the east.
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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in McDonald County than nationally: 10.1%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Missouri.
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 McDonald County
Renters in McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.7% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.4% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.7% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in McDonald County rent their homes (32.7%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 53.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the northwest. The renter share is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in McDonald County: 13.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 5.8 points, a much bigger shift than 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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in McDonald County are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. 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 southeast, 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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $573 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $597 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $672 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $796 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$223 | +$383 | +$606 |
Rent in McDonald County runs $796 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $223 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 McDonald County
Bachelor's degrees in McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in McDonald County: 12.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few Missouri counties have a lower share of college graduates: only three of 115.
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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.7% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.7% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.0% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.0% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in McDonald County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.3 points, in line with the national trend. Of Missouri's 115 counties, only seven have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 McDonald County
| Period | McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in McDonald County runs well above the national rate: 7.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of Missouri's 115 counties, only three have higher unemployment. 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).
McDonald 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald County | 2.83 | 39.3 | 10.1% | 32.7% | 13.2% | 1987 | $796 | 12.3% | 82.0% | 7.4% |
| Barry County | 2.72 | 41.8 | 9.5% | 22.7% | 18.4% | 1983 | $739 | 14.5% | 85.7% | 4.6% |
| Craig County | 2.53 | 40.4 | 11.5% | 26.3% | 18.4% | 1974 | $844 | 15.7% | 86.2% | 4.9% |
| Stone County | 2.45 | 51.9 | 6.9% | 16.7% | 25.0% | 1990 | $976 | 23.5% | 91.4% | 7.2% |
| Taney County | 2.44 | 42.9 | 8.8% | 33.0% | 20.3% | 1994 | $946 | 24.5% | 91.6% | 4.0% |
| Nowata County | 2.55 | 41.8 | 10.7% | 26.5% | 15.1% | 1977 | $870 | 16.5% | 91.4% | 4.4% |
| Washington County | 2.53 | 39.6 | 12.9% | 28.1% | 11.1% | 1973 | $1,099 | 30.4% | 92.7% | 4.4% |
| Ozark County | 2.38 | 49.8 | 7.8% | 17.9% | 22.6% | 1981 | $601 | 15.4% | 85.1% | 4.6% |
| Howell County | 2.50 | 42.3 | 14.2% | 29.7% | 11.3% | 1984 | $763 | 18.7% | 86.9% | 5.0% |
| Kay County | 2.57 | 38.8 | 13.2% | 30.8% | 19.3% | 1963 | $920 | 18.8% | 90.2% | 5.6% |
| Oregon County | 2.66 | 43.0 | 11.5% | 25.1% | 21.5% | 1978 | $825 | 12.3% | 84.8% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Martin County, MN · Marion County, AR · Marion County, KY · Marion County, MO · Marion County, MS · Marion County, SC · Marion County, TN · Mariposa County, CA · Marlboro County, SC · Marquette County, WI
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 McDonald 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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