Jefferson City, MO

Census Place

2024 Population

42,488

US Senator

Josh Hawley

Republican Party

US Senator

Eric Schmitt

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

38.9

0.512% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

12%

4.43% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$66,371

1.24% 1-year decline

2024 Median Property Value

Population & Diversity

Jefferson City, MO is home to a population of 42.5k people, from which 97.9% are citizens.

As of 2024, 4% of Jefferson City, MO residents were born outside of the country (1.7k people).

In 2024, there were 4.48 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (30.3k people) in Jefferson City, MO than any other race or ethnicity. There were 6.78k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.83k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.9%

2024 Citizenship

97.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.9% of Jefferson City, MO residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Jefferson City, MO was 97.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Jefferson City, MO

White (Non-Hispanic)
30.3k ± 654
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
6.78k ± 508
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.83k ± 436

3.96%

Hispanic Population

1.68k people

3.96% of the people in Jefferson City, MO are hispanic (1.68k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Jefferson City, MO as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
42,470 ± 5,042 people
India
24,378 ± 3,826 people
China
16,113 ± 3,112 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Missouri was Mexico, the natal country of 42,470 Missouri residents, followed by India with 24,378 and China with 16,113.

Foreign-Born Population

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.7k people

4.45%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.9k people

As of 2024, 4% of Jefferson City, MO residents (1.7k 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 Jefferson City, MO was 4.45%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
729 ± 181
Gulf War (2001-)
559 ± 193
Gulf War (1990s)
175 ± 74

Jefferson City, MO has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.3 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Jefferson City, MO.

Economy

The economy of Jefferson City, MO employs 20.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Jefferson City, MO were Public Administration (3,327 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,758 people), and Retail Trade (2,485 people), and the highest paying industries were Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($78,750), Utilities ($78,445), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting ($73,750).

Employment

Occupations

20.8k

2024 Value

± 1,138

1.43%

1 Year growth

± 7.91%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Jefferson City, MO grew at a rate of 1.43%, from 20.5k employees to 20.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Jefferson City, MO, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,306 people), Management Occupations (2,151 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (2,078 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Jefferson City, 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

20.8k

2024 Value

± 1,138

1.43%

1 Year growth

± 7.91%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Jefferson City, MO grew at a rate of 1.43%, from 20.5k employees to 20.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Jefferson City, MO, are Public Administration (3,327 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,758 people), and Retail Trade (2,485 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Jefferson City, MO, though some of these residents may live in Jefferson City, MO and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$52,736

Median earning men ± $3,338

$38,660

Median earning women ± $3,422

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($102,326), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($78,750), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($78,558).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($50,769), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($46,615), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($42,227).

Education

The student population of Jefferson City, MO in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 925 male students and 1,226 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Jefferson City, MO are White (171 and 50.7%), Black or African American (131 and 38.9%), Hispanic or Latino (13 and 3.86%), and Two or More Races (10 and 2.97%).

The largest universities in Jefferson City, MO by number of degrees awarded are Lincoln University (310 and 83.8%) and Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics (60 and 16.2%).

The most popular majors in Jefferson City, MO are Registered Nursing (42 and 11.4%), General Cosmetology (34 and 9.19%), and General Agriculture (32 and 8.65%).

The median tuition cost for a public four year colleges is $7,666 for in-state students and $15,562 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2024 there were 2,151 students enrolled in Jefferson City, MO, 43% men and 57% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 950 records, of which 61.8% were women and 38.2% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Food, Nutrition, & Wellness Studies
25 degrees awarded
Elementary Education & Teaching
24 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
23 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Jefferson City, MO was General Food, Nutrition, & Wellness Studies with 25 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Lincoln University
310 degrees awarded
Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics
60 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Lincoln University with 310 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2024, 105 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Jefferson City, MO, which is 0.396 times less than the 265 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 171 degrees mean that there were 1.31 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 131 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 ($7,666) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,130) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,000) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

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

Housing & Living

The median property value in Jefferson City, MO was $218,700 in 2024, which is 0.657 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $208,000 to $218,700, a 5.14% increase. The homeownership rate in Jefferson City, MO is 59.2%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Jefferson City, MO have an average commute time of 15.5 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Jefferson City, MO is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$218,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,600

$10,378

Median Property Taxes

±$719

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

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

Rent vs Own

59.2%

Homeownership

2024

64.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 59.2% of the housing units in Jefferson City, MO were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 58.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Jefferson City, 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.

$66,371

Median Household Income

± $4,731

17.5k

Number of Households

± 1,010

In 2024, the median household income of the 17.5k households in Jefferson City, MO declined from $66,371 from the previous year's value of $67,205.

The following chart displays the households in Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, MO is from Missouri.

0.45

2024 Wage GINI in Missouri

0.451

2023 Wage GINI in Missouri

In 2024, the income inequality in Missouri was 0.45 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.34% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Missouri was lower than than the national average of 0.474. 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 (74.2%)
Worked At Home (10.4%)
Carpooled (10.3%)

In 2024, 74.2% of workers in Jefferson City, MO drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.4%) and those who carpooled to work (10.3%).

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

15.5 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Jefferson City, MO have a shorter commute time (15.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.819% of the workforce in Jefferson City, MO have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

12% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Jefferson City, MO (4.61k out of 38.5k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Jefferson City, MO is White, followed by Black and Other.

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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

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

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

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