Pulaski County, MO

County

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2024 Population

53,894

US Senator

Josh Hawley

Republican Party

US Senator

Eric Schmitt

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

27.8

1.09% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

12.7%

0.924% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$64,466

2.96% 1-year decline

2024 Median Property Value

$189,800

0.0527% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

18,820

1.95% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Pulaski 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.

97.9% of the residents in Pulaski County, MO are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Pulaski County, MO are Central College of Cosmetology (29 degrees awarded in 2023) and Waynesville Career Center (18 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Pulaski County, MO was $189,800, and the homeownership rate was 61.2%.

Most people in Pulaski County, MO drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 19.5 minutes. The average car ownership in Pulaski County, MO was 2 cars per household.

Pulaski County, MO borders Camden County, MO, Laclede County, MO, Maries County, MO, Miller County, MO, Phelps County, MO, and Texas County, MO.

United States Missouri Fort Leonard Wood, MO

Population & Diversity

Pulaski County, MO is home to a population of 53.9k people, from which 97.9% are citizens. As of 2024, 4.82% of Pulaski County, MO residents were born outside of the country (2.6k people).

In 2024, there were 6.8 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (36.9k people) in Pulaski County, MO than any other race or ethnicity. There were 5.43k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.01k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.9%

2024 Citizenship

97.7%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.9% of Pulaski County, MO residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Pulaski County, MO was 97.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Pulaski County, MO

White (Non-Hispanic)
36.9k ± 241
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
5.43k ± 439
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
3.01k ± 487

11.5%

Hispanic Population

6.2k people

11.5% of the people in Pulaski County, MO are hispanic (6.2k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Pulaski 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
41,951 ± 5,011 people
India
23,410 ± 3,749 people
China
17,257 ± 3,221 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Missouri was Mexico, the natal country of 41,951 Missouri residents, followed by India with 23,410 and China with 17,257.

Foreign-Born Population

4.82%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

2.6k people

4.89%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.63k people

As of 2024, 4.82% of Pulaski County, MO residents (2.6k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Pulaski County, MO was 4.89%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
3,087 ± 497
Vietnam
1,174 ± 218
Gulf War (1990s)
1,097 ± 297

Pulaski County, MO has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 2.63 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Pulaski County, MO.

Economy

The economy of Pulaski County, MO employs 18.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Pulaski County, MO were Public Administration (3,003 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,409 people), and Retail Trade (2,327 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($54,875), Public Administration ($53,971), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($46,673).

Employment

Occupations

18.8k

2024 Value

± 1,398

−1.95%

1 Year decline

± 10.8%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Pulaski County, MO declined at a rate of −1.95%, from 19.2k employees to 18.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Pulaski County, MO, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,048 people), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,765 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,505 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Pulaski County, MO.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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.

Industries

Employment by Industries

18.8k

2024 Value

± 1,398

−1.95%

1 Year decline

± 10.8%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Pulaski County, MO declined at a rate of −1.95%, from 19.2k employees to 18.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Pulaski County, MO, are Public Administration (3,003 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,409 people), and Retail Trade (2,327 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Pulaski County, MO, though some of these residents may live in Pulaski County, MO and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$38,708

Median earning men ± $4,856

$34,991

Median earning women ± $2,296

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($61,250), Information ($52,798), and Construction ($46,785).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($55,625), Public Administration ($45,938), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($41,383).

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

63
Other Services (except Public Administration)
57
Retail Trade
36
Retail Trade

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

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$99.4k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$64k
Accommodation and Food Services
$53.7k
Retail Trade

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

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Missouri went to Donald J. Trump with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (40.1%), followed by Chase Oliver (0.797%).

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

Voting results are not available for Pulaski County, MO. Showing the available data for Missouri.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (58.5%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (40.1%)
Democratic Party
Chase Oliver (0.797%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Missouri went to Donald J. Trump with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (40.1%), followed by Chase Oliver (0.797%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Missouri for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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.

Education

In 2023, universities in Pulaski County, MO awarded 47 degrees. The student population of Pulaski County, MO in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1 male students and 68 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Pulaski County, MO are White (39 and 83%), Hispanic or Latino (4 and 8.51%), Black or African American (3 and 6.38%), and Asian (1 and 2.13%).

The largest universities in Pulaski County, MO by number of degrees awarded are Central College of Cosmetology (29 and 61.7%) and Waynesville Career Center (18 and 38.3%).

The most popular majors in Pulaski County, MO are General Cosmetology (23 and 48.9%), Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (12 and 25.5%), and Nail Specialist & Manicurist (12 and 25.5%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 69 students enrolled in Pulaski County, MO, 1.45% men and 98.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 55 records, of which 100% were women and 0% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Cosmetology
23 degrees awarded
Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training
12 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate recipients in Pulaski County, MO was General Cosmetology with 23 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate from schools in Pulaski County, MO according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Central College of Cosmetology
29 degrees awarded
Waynesville Career Center
18 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Central College of Cosmetology with 29 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 4 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Pulaski County, MO, which is 0.093 times less than the 43 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 39 degrees mean that there were 9.75 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 4 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.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Pulaski County, MO was $189,800 in 2024, which is 0.57 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $189,700 to $189,800, a 0.0527% increase. The homeownership rate in Pulaski County, MO is 61.2%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Pulaski County, MO have an average commute time of 19.5 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Pulaski County, MO is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 14% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Pulaski County, MO. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.0368%.

Housing

Property

$189,800

Median Property Value 2024

±$13,331

$10,306

Median Property Taxes

±$836

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 Pulaski County, MO the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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

Rent vs Own

61.2%

Homeownership

2024

69.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 61.2% of the housing units in Pulaski County, MO were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 59.4%.

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

Equity

Household Income

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

$64,466

Median Household Income

± $5,463

16.9k

Number of Households

± 1,105

In 2024, the median household income of the 16.9k households in Pulaski County, MO declined from $64,466 from the previous year's value of $66,435.

The following chart displays the households in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, MO is from Missouri.

0.451

2023 Wage GINI in Missouri

0.455

2022 Wage GINI in Missouri

In 2023, the income inequality in Missouri was 0.451 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.848% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Missouri was lower than than the national average of 0.476. 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 2024

Drove Alone (61.8%)
Worked At Home (15.7%)
Walked (12.7%)

In 2024, 61.8% of workers in Pulaski County, MO drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (15.7%) and those who walked to work (12.7%).

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

19.5 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Pulaski County, MO have a shorter commute time (19.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.3% of the workforce in Pulaski County, MO have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, MO distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Pulaski County, MO have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 14% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Pulaski County, MO. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.0368%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

12.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Pulaski County, MO (5.5k out of 43.4k 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 Males 6 - 11, followed by Males 25 - 34 and then Males < 5.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Pulaski County, MO is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

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 2025, 11.9% of the children was living in poverty in Pulaski County, MO. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 6.5%.

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.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 268 in Pulaski County, MO. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 43.5 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

91.6% of the population of Pulaski County, MO has health coverage, with 25.1% on employee plans, 14.2% on Medicaid, 6.38% on Medicare, 26.7% on non-group plans, and 19.3% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Pulaski County, MO see 3,588 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (3,588 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 782 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 352 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.1% were men and 49.9% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

3,588 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Pulaski County, MO

Primary care physicians in Pulaski County, MO see an average of 3,588 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (3,588 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 30% under 18 years, 22.9% between 18 and 34 years, 34.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 12.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.1% were men and 49.9% were women.

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

Uninsured People

8.36%

Uninsured

25.1%

Employer Coverage

14.2%

Medicaid

6.38%

Medicare

26.7%

Non-Group

19.3%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Pulaski County, MO declined by 19.5% from 10.4% to 8.36%.

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

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 48.8 in Pulaski County, MO.

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

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, 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 35.4% in Pulaski County, MO.

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