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Living in
Joplin.
About
Life in Joplin
Joplin offers an affordable Midwestern lifestyle with a median household income around $52,000 and median home values near $170,000, though you'll want to factor in the region's notable weather trade-offs. Summers are hot and humid with roughly 53 days hitting 90°F or higher, and the city sits in Tornado Alley—the devastating EF5 tornado in 2011 is part of Joplin's recent history, though the community has rebuilt significantly since. Winters are mild compared to northern Missouri, though you'll still get occasional freezes.
Joplin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
88.6%
of households
Population Growth
+4.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Joplin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Joplin, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (15.0%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.3%
of households
Married Couples
37.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Joplin
In Joplin, rent runs 7% below the MO average, and home values are 27% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,158
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $206,480 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Joplin
Unemployment in Joplin is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Joplin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18 min avg
How Joplin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Joplin, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Joplin Regional Airport (JLN)
Regional airport · few flights23k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 70% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Joplin runs 70% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
558.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,612.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Joplin Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 33 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jasper County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jasper County, which includes Joplin, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 33 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.4M |
| 2024 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $880,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Drought | $125,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Winter Weather | $125,000 |
| 2020 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.6M |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.8M |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jasper County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jasper County, which includes Joplin, is typically good — 305 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
305
per year
Moderate Days
58
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Jasper County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 27°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Joplin has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 27°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/27°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
7.8"
Hot Days/Year
53
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
87
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 25°F | 1.92" |
| Feb | 50°F | 29°F | 1.98" |
| Mar | 60°F | 37°F | 3.29" |
| Apr | 69°F | 47°F | 4.99" |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 6.56" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 5.60" |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 3.97" |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 3.36" |
| Sep | 82°F | 59°F | 4.18" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.80" |
| Nov | 58°F | 37°F | 3.33" |
| Dec | 48°F | 29°F | 2.60" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 1.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Joplin
Joplin has 2 hospitals, averaging 1.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
11.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.5 / 5
Freeman Health System - Freeman West
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercy Hospital Joplin
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Joplin
Joplin's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Joplin
Missouri Southern State University
Public · 4-year · 3,019 students · in-state tuition $9,240 · 46% graduate · median earnings $48,193 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 602 students · in-state tuition $16,480 · 60% graduate · median earnings $40,203 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: George Washington Carver National Monument, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Joplin
Joplin has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being George Washington Carver National Monument (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
George Washington Carver National Monument
National Monument
10 mi awayPea Ridge National Military Park
National Military Park
50 mi awayFort Scott National Historic Site
National Historic Site
54 mi awayWilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
60 mi awayPublic Libraries in Joplin
Joplin Public Library
1901 E 20th Street, Joplin
Cities Near Joplin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Joplin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Joplin FAQ
Is Joplin, Missouri affordable?⌄
Joplin's median rent is $962/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $52,097/year. Median home value is $168,300.
Is Joplin, Missouri safe?⌄
Joplin's violent crime rate was 559 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3613 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Joplin, Missouri?⌄
Joplin has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Joplin, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Joplin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $962/month and median household income is $52,097/year. The median home value is $168,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Joplin, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Joplin is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from