West Plains, MO
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around West Plains to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in West Plains, Missouri

Life in West Plains research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in West Plains over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Here's a snapshot of West Plains based on the most recently available data.

12,441 Population
$221,521 Median home value
$44,002 Median income
85 Cost of living -15% vs US
$810 Median rent
4.2% Unemployment
Not sure West Plains fits? Try our place-match quiz → Planning a move? Find movers to West Plains, MO Get matched →

West Plains SnackAbility

3
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 6/10
Housing 4/10
Affordability 7/10
Diversity 3/10
Safety 4/10
Amenities 8/10
Education 6/10
Commute 9.5/10

Crime in West Plains summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in West Plains. Key points include:

  • There were 276 total crimes in West Plains in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in West Plains is 2,167.4 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in West Plains is 361.2 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in West Plains is 1,806.2 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in West Plains is 2.27% above the national average.

276
Total Crimes
2.27%
Above National Average
West Plains
US

Crime In West Plains Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
West Plains
/ 100k People
Missouri
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 276 2,167.4 2,403.3 2,119.2
Violent Crime 46 361.2 462.0 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 7.8 5.0
Robbery 3 23.6 51.5 61.0
Aggravated Assault 32 251.3 357.5 256.0
Property Crime 230 1,806.2 1,941.2 1,760.0
Burglary 23 180.6 236.3 229.0
Larceny 188 1,476.4 1,306.5 1,272.0
Car Theft 19 149.2 398.4 259.0
Worried about safety? Compare home security systems in West Plains Get matched →

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

Cost of living in West Plains summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in West Plains. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Missouri. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in West Plains is 85 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in West Plains is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in West Plains is $221,521.

  • The median income in West Plains is $44,002.

85
West Plains's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average
West Plains
US

Cost Of Living In West Plains Comparison Table

Living Expense West Plains Missouri National Average
Overall 85 90 100
Services 94 97 100
Groceries 95 98 100
Health 56 76 100
Housing 97 95 100
Transportation 93 94 100
Utilities 95 96 100
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in West Plains Get matched →

Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100

West Plains, MO Weather

  • The average high in West Plains is 67.8° and the average low is 44.9°.

  • There are 62.7 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 46.7 inches of precipitation each year with 9.3 inches of snow.

StatWest Plains
Average Annual High67.8
Average Annual Low44.9
Annual Precipitation Days62.7
Average Annual Precipitation46.7
Average Annual Snowfall9.3
67.8°
Average High
62.7
Days of Rain

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

West Plains, MO Photos

West Plains Washington Avenue
Source: Wikipedia User Truett Ray | CC BY-SA 4.0

Rankings & Articles For West Plains

Locations Around West Plains

Map Of West Plains, MO

Best Places Around West Plains

1

Mountain Home, AR
Population 13,108

$233,820+6% vs West Plains

West Plains Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in West Plains

The current population in West Plains is 12,441. The population has increased 5.8% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 12,441 0.8%
2023 12,341 0.7%
2022 12,250 1.7%
2021 12,048 -2.0%
2020 12,290 0.5%
2019 12,233 0.1%
2018 12,222 0.0%
2017 12,218 -0.3%
2016 12,259 0.2%
2015 12,230 0.4%
2014 12,176 0.4%
2013 12,125 0.9%
2012 12,020 1.3%
2011 11,871 1.0%
2010 11,759 -

Race / Ethnicity in West Plains

White 94.1% (11,704)
African American 1.0% (120)
American Indian 0.2% (26)
Asian 0.5% (68)
Hawaiian 0.0% (2)
Other 0.0% (0)
Two Or More 3.9% (491)
Hispanic 0.2% (30)
See the full breakdown

West Plains is:

  • 94.1% White with 11,704 White residents.

  • 1.0% African American with 120 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 26 American Indian residents.

  • 0.5% Asian with 68 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 2 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.0% Other with 0 Other residents.

  • 3.9% Two Or More with 491 Two Or More residents.

  • 0.2% Hispanic with 30 Hispanic residents.

Race West Plains MO USA
White 94.1% 76.3% 57.4%
African American 1.0% 10.9% 11.9%
American Indian 0.2% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 0.5% 2.1% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.0% 0.4% 0.6%
Two Or More 3.9% 4.8% 4.3%
Hispanic 0.2% 5.2% 19.3%

Gender in West Plains

Female 54.3% (6,760)
Male 45.7% (5,681)
See the full breakdown
  • West Plains is 54.3% female with 6,760 female residents.

  • West Plains is 45.7% male with 5,681 male residents.

Gender West Plains MO USA
Female 54.3% 50.7% 50.5%
Male 45.7% 49.3% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in West Plains for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 3.0% (373)
9-12th Grade 11.0% (1,368)
High School / GED 39.0% (4,851)
Some College 17.0% (2,114)
Associate's Degree 12.0% (1,492)
Bachelor's Degree 10.0% (1,244)
Master's Degree 4.0% (497)
Professional Degree 2.0% (248)
Doctorate Degree 2.0% (248)
See the full breakdown
  • 3.0% of adults in West Plains completed < 9th grade.

  • 11.0% of adults in West Plains completed 9-12th grade.

  • 39.0% of adults in West Plains completed high school / ged.

  • 17.0% of adults in West Plains completed some college.

  • 12.0% of adults in West Plains completed associate's degree.

  • 10.0% of adults in West Plains completed bachelor's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in West Plains completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in West Plains completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in West Plains completed doctorate degree.

Education West Plains MO USA
< 9th Grade 3.0% 4.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 11.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 39.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 17.0% 21.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 12.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 10.0% 20.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 4.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For West Plains, Missouri

Less than $10,000 5.6% (70,197)
$10,000 to $14,999 10.9% (135,715)
$15,000 to $24,999 13.8% (172,169)
$25,000 to $34,999 11.6% (144,089)
$35,000 to $49,999 12.9% (160,099)
$50,000 to $74,999 17.8% (221,430)
$75,000 to $99,999 13.5% (168,228)
$100,000 to $149,999 8.5% (105,912)
$150,000 to $199,999 3.2% (40,394)
$200,000 or more 2.1% (25,862)
See the full breakdown
  • 5.6% of households in West Plains earn Less than $10,000.

  • 10.9% of households in West Plains earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 13.8% of households in West Plains earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 11.6% of households in West Plains earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 12.9% of households in West Plains earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 17.8% of households in West Plains earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 13.5% of households in West Plains earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 8.5% of households in West Plains earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 3.2% of households in West Plains earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 2.1% of households in West Plains earn $200,000 or more.

Income West Plains MO USA
Less than $10,000 5.6% 4.9% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 10.9% 3.8% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 13.8% 7.1% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 11.6% 7.8% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.9% 11.9% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 17.8% 17.4% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 13.5% 13.2% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 8.5% 17.1% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 3.2% 8.2% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 2.1% 8.7% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)