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Living in
West Plains.
About
Life in West Plains
West Plains is a community of 12,341 people in Missouri. The median household income is $44,002, median rent runs about $810 per month, and median home values are around $169,900. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
West Plains at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.1%
Foreign-Born
0.3%
Broadband Internet
88.4%
of households
Population Growth
+4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.3% foreign-born, most often from United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland
Who lives in West Plains: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Plains, the largest foreign-born group is from United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland (37.5%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
19.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.0%
of households
Married Couples
34.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
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 22% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in West Plains
In West Plains, rent runs 22% below the MO average, and home values are 26% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$930
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $225,300 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts above MO average
Unemployment in West Plains
Unemployment in Howell County, which includes West Plains, is 0.6 percentage points higher than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
West Plains: Howell County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Howell County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What West Plains Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.3 min avg
How West Plains residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Plains, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 72 mi
Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field (TBN)
Regional airport · few flights11k 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 17% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Plains runs 17% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
272.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,488.3
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Plains Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Howell County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Howell County, which includes West Plains, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Flash Flood | $6.5M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.3M |
| 2023 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Drought | $1.2M |
| 2021 | 19 | Winter Weather | $120,000 |
| 2020 | 20 | Flood | $195,100 |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $118,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Howell County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate87°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Plains has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
8.7"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 22°F | 3.25" |
| Feb | 49°F | 26°F | 2.95" |
| Mar | 58°F | 33°F | 4.77" |
| Apr | 69°F | 43°F | 5.68" |
| May | 76°F | 53°F | 5.62" |
| Jun | 84°F | 61°F | 3.52" |
| Jul | 89°F | 66°F | 3.70" |
| Aug | 87°F | 64°F | 4.07" |
| Sep | 80°F | 56°F | 4.03" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.84" |
| Nov | 57°F | 34°F | 4.47" |
| Dec | 46°F | 26°F | 3.46" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Plains
West Plains has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
15.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Ozarks Healthcare
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Plains
West Plains's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in West Plains
Missouri State University-West Plains
Public · 2-year · 965 students · in-state tuition $6,712 · 28% graduate · median earnings $39,358 (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: Ozark National Scenic Riverways, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Plains
West Plains has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ozark National Scenic Riverways (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
44 mi awayBuffalo National River
National River
75 mi awayWilson's Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Plains
West Plains Public Library
750 W Broadway St, West Plains
Cities Near West Plains
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Plains?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Plains FAQ
Is West Plains, Missouri affordable?⌄
West Plains's median rent is $810/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,002/year. Median home value is $169,900.
Is West Plains, Missouri safe?⌄
West Plains's violent crime rate was 273 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1488 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Plains, Missouri?⌄
Howell County, which includes West Plains, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Plains, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in West Plains is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $810/month and median household income is $44,002/year. The median home value is $169,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Plains, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in West Plains is 21 minutes, which is about 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