Population 10,708 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ripley County
Household size in Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Ripley County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Missouri as a whole, where it has 2.49 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.48, 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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.9 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Ripley County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has edged down from 42.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the north.
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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Ripley County as they are nationally: 11.1%, against 11.6%. Ripley County has a higher share of single-parent households than most Missouri counties.
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 Ripley County
Renters in Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.6% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.0% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ripley County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 46.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 5.8 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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 22.1% of the housing in Ripley 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. Vacancy is up 6.4 points from 2006–10, 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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Ripley County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $545 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $531 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $606 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $602 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$57 | +$383 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ripley County pays $602 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $57 a month since 2006–10, up 10%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the center.
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 Ripley County
Bachelor's degrees in Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Ripley County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Few Missouri counties have a lower share of college graduates: only six 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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.7% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Ripley County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 12.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only eight of Missouri's 115 counties 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 Ripley County
| Period | Ripley County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.3 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Ripley County runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 8.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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).
Ripley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley County | 2.66 | 41.5 | 11.1% | 20.9% | 22.1% | 1984 | $602 | 12.9% | 82.9% | 3.8% |
| Butler County | 2.54 | 40.5 | 13.4% | 35.4% | 14.1% | 1983 | $808 | 16.6% | 85.2% | 4.7% |
| Oregon County | 2.66 | 43.0 | 11.5% | 25.1% | 21.5% | 1978 | $825 | 12.3% | 84.8% | 5.7% |
| Howell County | 2.50 | 42.3 | 14.2% | 29.7% | 11.3% | 1984 | $763 | 18.7% | 86.9% | 5.0% |
| New Madrid County | 2.33 | 41.6 | 14.3% | 35.8% | 15.9% | 1977 | $737 | 14.8% | 86.6% | 3.5% |
| Ozark County | 2.38 | 49.8 | 7.8% | 17.9% | 22.6% | 1981 | $601 | 15.4% | 85.1% | 4.6% |
| Fulton County | 2.38 | 40.3 | 18.2% | 38.2% | 18.6% | 1971 | $563 | 16.8% | 85.7% | 3.9% |
| Hickman County | 2.54 | 47.3 | 18.5% | 29.2% | 20.8% | 1977 | $806 | 15.0% | 85.0% | 2.6% |
| Graves County | 2.59 | 41.4 | 11.7% | 23.9% | 14.2% | 1977 | $824 | 17.9% | 89.0% | 3.4% |
| Taney County | 2.44 | 42.9 | 8.8% | 33.0% | 20.3% | 1994 | $946 | 24.5% | 91.6% | 4.0% |
| Calloway County | 2.32 | 38.3 | 11.3% | 36.1% | 16.4% | 1983 | $871 | 33.3% | 91.7% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Monroe County, OH · Norton City, VA · Norman County, MN · Montour County, PA · Montgomery County, MS · Montgomery County, MO · Montgomery County, IA · Montgomery County, GA · Montgomery County, AR · Montague County, TX
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 Ripley 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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