Buchanan County, MO

County

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2022 Population

84,544

1.17% 1-year decline

US Senator

Josh Hawley

Republican Party

US Senator

Eric Schmitt

Republican Party

2022 Median Age

38.6

0.521% 1-year increase

2022 Poverty Rate

16.6%

4.48% 1-year increase

2022 Median Household Income

$58,303

7.82% 1-year growth

2022 Median Property Value

$149,600

15.1% 1-year growth

2022 Employed Population

38,722

1.85% 1-year decline

About

In 2022, Buchanan County, MO had a population of 84.5k people with a median age of 38.6 and a median household income of $58,303. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Buchanan County, MO declined from 85,545 to 84,544, a −1.17% decrease and its median household income grew from $54,073 to $58,303, a 7.82% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Buchanan County, MO are White (Non-Hispanic) (81.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (5.73%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.44%), Other (Hispanic) (2.54%), and White (Hispanic) (2.1%).

None of the households in Buchanan County, MO reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.1% of the residents in Buchanan County, MO are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Buchanan County, MO are Missouri Western State University (814 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2022, the median property value in Buchanan County, MO was $149,600, and the homeownership rate was 63.4%.

Most people in Buchanan County, MO drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17 minutes. The average car ownership in Buchanan County, MO was 2 cars per household.

Buchanan County, MO borders Atchison County, KS, Doniphan County, KS, Andrew County, MO, Clinton County, MO, DeKalb County, MO, and Platte County, MO.

United States Missouri St. Joseph, MO-KS

Population & Diversity

Buchanan County, MO is home to a population of 84.5k people, from which 98.1% are citizens. As of 2022, 3.83% of Buchanan County, MO residents were born outside of the country (3.24k people).

In 2022, there were 14.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (68.5k people) in Buchanan County, MO than any other race or ethnicity. There were 4.84k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.75k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.1%

2022 Citizenship

98%

2021 Citizenship

As of 2022, 98.1% of Buchanan County, MO residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Buchanan County, MO was 98%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Buchanan County, MO compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Buchanan County, MO

White (Non-Hispanic)
68.5k ± 447
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
4.84k ± 398
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
3.75k ± 606

6.98%

Hispanic Population

5.9k people

6.98% of the people in Buchanan County, MO are hispanic (5.9k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Buchanan County, MO as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Missouri.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
37,430 ± 4,735 people
India
22,246 ± 3,655 people
China
18,085 ± 3,297 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Missouri was Mexico, the natal country of 37,430 Missouri residents, followed by India with 22,246 and China with 18,085.

Foreign-Born Population

3.83%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

3.24k people

3.82%

2021 Foreign-Born Population

3.27k people

As of 2022, 3.83% of Buchanan County, MO residents (3.24k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2021, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Buchanan County, MO was 3.82%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Buchanan County, MO compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,985 ± 262
Gulf War (2001-)
1,059 ± 237
Gulf War (1990s)
901 ± 216

Buchanan County, MO has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.87 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Buchanan County, MO employs 38.7k people. The largest industries in Buchanan County, MO are Manufacturing (7,514 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (6,154 people), and Retail Trade (4,237 people), and the highest paying industries are Finance & Insurance ($61,228), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($59,400), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($57,746).

Males in Missouri have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $55,490. The income inequality in Missouri (measured using the Gini index) is 0.455, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

38.7k

2022 Value

± 1,424

−1.85%

1 Year decline

± 5.26%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Buchanan County, MO declined at a rate of −1.85%, from 39.5k employees to 38.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Buchanan County, MO, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (4,723 people), Production Occupations (4,636 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (3,421 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Buchanan County, MO.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Missouri (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

38.7k

2022 Value

± 1,424

−1.85%

1 Year decline

± 5.26%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Buchanan County, MO declined at a rate of −1.85%, from 39.5k employees to 38.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Buchanan County, MO, are Manufacturing (7,514 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (6,154 people), and Retail Trade (4,237 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Buchanan County, MO, though some of these residents may live in Buchanan County, MO and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$44,289

Median earning men ± $1,710

$34,410

Median earning women ± $1,533

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2022 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($71,134), Public Administration ($54,338), and Manufacturing ($52,663).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2022 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($53,000), Wholesale Trade ($46,964), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($46,806).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Missouri.

Y-Axis

2.17%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 2.94M people employed in Missouri. This represents a 2.17% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 11.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Missouri.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

137
Other Services (except Public Administration)
132
Health Care and Social Assistance
100
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$715k
Manufacturing
$514k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$214k
Construction

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Buchanan County, MO went to Donald J. Trump with 61.3% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (36.7%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.45%).

Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt are the senators currently representing the state of Missouri. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Missouri is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (61.3%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (36.7%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.45%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Buchanan County, MO for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Missouri

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Missouri.

Josh Hawley

Senator from Missouri

Assumed office on January 3, 2019

Eric Schmitt

Senator from Missouri

Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt are the senators currently representing Missouri.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Missouri over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Missouri

Missouri is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Missouri have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Buchanan County, MO awarded 814 degrees. The student population of Buchanan County, MO in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,539 male students and 2,484 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Buchanan County, MO are White (634 and 79.1%), followed by Black or African American (69 and 8.6%), Two or More Races (51 and 6.36%), and Asian (20 and 2.49%).

The largest universities in Buchanan County, MO by number of degrees awarded are Missouri Western State University (814 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Buchanan County, MO are Registered Nursing (104 and 12.8%), General Business Administration & Management (76 and 9.34%), and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (57 and 7%).

The median tuition cost in Buchanan County, MO for a public four year colleges is $7,200 for in-state students and $15,120 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

Measure

In 2019 in Buchanan County, MO, the percentage of applicants admitted was 53.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 42.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 4,023 (38.3% men and 61.7% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 4,023 students enrolled in Buchanan County, MO, 38.3% men and 61.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,758 records, of which 63.5% were women and 36.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
104 degrees awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
57 degrees awarded
General Health & Physical Education
50 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Buchanan County, MO was Registered Nursing with 104 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Buchanan County, MO according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Missouri Western State University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

814 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Missouri Western State University with 814 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 296 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Buchanan County, MO, which is 0.571 times less than the 518 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 634 degrees mean that there were 9.19 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 69 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 4-year or above ($7,200) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,041) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,000) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Missouri.

Measure

In 2022, 0.699% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.592% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Missouri.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.48M), Some college (1.12M), and Bachelors Degree (864k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Buchanan County, MO was $149,600 in 2022, which is 0.531 times smaller than the national average of $281,900. Between 2021 and 2022 the median property value increased from $130,000 to $149,600, a 15.1% increase. The homeownership rate in Buchanan County, MO is 63.4%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.8%.

People in Buchanan County, MO have an average commute time of 17 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Buchanan County, MO is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Buchanan County, MO is $58,303. In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Buchanan County, MO was Census Tract 22 with a value of $92,969, followed by Census Tract 1 and Census Tract 28, with respective values of $84,683 and $84,102.

In 2023, 13.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Buchanan County, MO. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 1.01%.

Housing

Property

$149,600

Median Property Value 2022

±$4,993

$21,148

Median Property Taxes

±$948

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Buchanan County, MO the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Buchanan County, MO compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

63.4%

Homeownership

2022

61.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2022

In 2022, 63.4% of the housing units in Buchanan County, MO were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 62.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Buchanan County, MO compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 22
Census Tract 1
Census Tract 28

In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Buchanan County, MO was Census Tract 22 with a value of $92,969, followed by Census Tract 1 and Census Tract 28, with respective values of $84,683 and $84,102.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Buchanan County, MO colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$58,303

Median Household Income

± $2,955

33.4k

Number of Households

± 1,278

In 2022, the median household income of the 33.4k households in Buchanan County, MO grew to $58,303 from the previous year's value of $54,073.

The following chart displays the households in Buchanan County, MO distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Buchanan County, MO is from Missouri.

0.455

2022 Wage GINI in Missouri

0.457

2021 Wage GINI in Missouri

In 2022, the income inequality in Missouri was 0.455 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.432% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Missouri was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Missouri in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Missouri across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2022

Drove Alone (80.9%)
Carpooled (10.9%)
Worked At Home (5.59%)

In 2022, 80.9% of workers in Buchanan County, MO drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.9%) and those who worked at home (5.59%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

17 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Buchanan County, MO have a shorter commute time (17 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.7 minutes). Additionally, 1.13% of the workforce in Buchanan County, MO have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Buchanan County, MO compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Buchanan County, MO distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Buchanan County, MO have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 13.8% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Buchanan County, MO. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 1.01%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

16.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Buchanan County, MO (13.4k out of 80.8k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Buchanan County, MO is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 22.8% of the children was living in poverty in Buchanan County, MO. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 2.2%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

87.2% of the population of Buchanan County, MO has health coverage, with 41% on employee plans, 16.2% on Medicaid, 12.7% on Medicare, 15.5% on non-group plans, and 1.7% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Buchanan County, MO see 1602 patients per year on average, which represents a 4.64% decrease from the previous year (1680 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1290 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 511 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,602 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Buchanan County, MO

Primary care physicians in Buchanan County, MO see an average of 1,602 patients per year. This represents a 4.64% decrease from the previous year (1,680 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Buchanan County, MO in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2022, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.4% under 18 years, 21.1% between 18 and 34 years, 38% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

12.8%

Uninsured

41%

Employer Coverage

16.2%

Medicaid

12.7%

Medicare

15.5%

Non-Group

1.7%

Military or VA

Between 2021 and 2022, the percent of uninsured citizens in Buchanan County, MO grew by 3.5% from 12.3% to 12.8%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Buchanan County, MO changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 62 in Buchanan County, MO.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Buchanan County, MO.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 36.9% in Buchanan County, MO.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Buchanan County, MO.