Ripley County, MO Population Statistics: Density Map Data

Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.

Area Snapshot Statistics

Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.

D Among the 3 least healthy counties in Missouri
D Less wealthy than 92% of counties in Missouri
F Among the 3 least educated counties in Missouri

Population: density and quick facts

Metric Ripley County Missouri Avg U.S. Average
Population 12,392 6,177,646 334,821,731
Population density (per sq mi) 19.6 88.7 85.8
Population growth (%/yr) -3.43% 0.26% 0.57%
Median age 42.8 37.3 37.1
Households 4,030 2,484,450 128,459,983

Population in Ripley County declined by 20.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 10,754 in 2023.

Population Growth 2009–2023

Year Ripley County

Race & Ethnicity

Group Share

Economy

Ripley County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.

Metric Ripley County Missouri Avg U.S. Average
Median household income $43,790 $69,051 $78,145
Income growth (%/yr) 3.65% 4.84% 5.07%
Unemployment rate 4.6% 4.1% 5.2%

The median household income in Ripley County is about 37% lower than in Missouri.

Detailed wealth and income breakdown →

Housing

Metric Ripley County Missouri Avg U.S. Average
Median home price $136,414 $136,017 $242,182
Median rent $666 $995 $1,342
Homeownership rate 78.9% 67.9% 65.1%

The median home price in Ripley County is about 17.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $666 per month for that long.

Full housing market analysis →

Commute Time & Mobility

Commuters in Ripley County spend about 48 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 200 hours, about 8.3 full days, spent commuting.

Metric Ripley County Missouri Avg U.S. Average
One-way commute (min) 24.0 21.0 22.5
Round-trip commute (min) 47.9 42.1 44.9
Yearly time spent (hours) 200 175 187
Estimated yearly cost $6,192 $5,435 $5,803
Work from home 9.6% 11.6% 13.4%
Highway traffic (vehicles/day) 2,996 7,545 8,813
Local road traffic (vehicles/day) 232 923 1,355

Fastest commutes among counties in Missouri: Saline County (11.5 min), Nodaway County (11.9 min), Adair County (12.1 min).
Slowest: Bollinger County (33.1 min), Dallas County (31.6 min), Caldwell County (31.0 min).

The average commute time in Ripley County is 24 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Missouri.

Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.

Commute and transport details →

Education & Households

Ripley County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.

Metric Ripley County Missouri Avg U.S. Average
Bachelor's degree or higher 11.4% 28.8% 31.6%
Average household size 2.64 2.42 2.54

Highest education index among counties in Missouri: St. Louis County (0.4), Platte County (0.4), Boone County (0.4).
Lowest: Bollinger County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Ripley County (0.2).

Health

Ripley County has a health index of D, which means it is barely healthy.

Metric Ripley County Missouri Avg U.S. Average
Life expectancy (years) 71.9 76.9 78.3
Self-rated poor health 25.7% 19.0% 16.3%
Smokers 28.6% 22.8% 19.0%

Highest health index among counties in Missouri: St. Charles County (0.8), Platte County (0.8), Boone County (0.8).
Lowest: Scotland County (0.7), Ripley County (0.7), Pemiscot County (0.8).

Full health data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ripley County, Missouri.

What is the population of Ripley County, Missouri?

The population of Ripley County, Missouri is 12,392, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.

What is the population density of Ripley County, Missouri?

The population density of Ripley County, Missouri is 19.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.

What is the median household income in Ripley County, Missouri?

The median household income in Ripley County, Missouri is $43,790, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.

What is the median home price in Ripley County, Missouri?

The median home price in Ripley County, Missouri is $136,414, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.

What is the unemployment rate in Ripley County, Missouri?

The unemployment rate in Ripley County, Missouri is 4.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.