Median Age
39 Years
Largest Age Group
10-19 Years
Approximately 13% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
22%
West Plains
West Plains, MO Area Guide
Avg Rent
$515
Population
12,450
Renter Mix
49% Rent
A safe suburb that’s home to Mississippi State University
Suburban
•
Affordable
•
Family-Friendly
•
College Town
•
West Plains is a secluded suburb in southern Missouri, offering a college town vibe, safe residential streets, and family-friendly amenities. In the heart of the city lies Mississippi State University and various community parks like People’s Park and Galloway Park. The county fairgrounds offer seasonal, kid-friendly events for the community, while the West Plains Country Club is a local favorite for bonding with fellow residents and enjoy the well-kept greens.
West Plains offers a historic downtown district featuring various small, family-owned restaurants and retailers. From coffee shops and a brewery to pizzerias and seafood shops, this spacious suburb has it all. Highways 160 and 63 make commuting simple, and families appreciate the excellent public schools in the area, like West Plains Middle School, and the affordable apartments and houses for rent.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$41,866
Average: $55,007
Education
2,040
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,392
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
West Plains has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
49%
Non-Renters
51%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
14%
Other Education
86%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in West Plains, MO is $476 for a studio, $515 for one bedroom, and $719 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in West Plains has increased by 0.7% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$515/month
646 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly West Plains, MO is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-8
372 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
519 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
766 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
159 Students
Public
Grades K-8
611 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
372 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
519 Students
Public
Grades K-8
611 Students
Public
Grades K-12
18 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,162 Students
Public
Grades K-12
18 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Top Apartments in West Plains
Houses for Rent in West Plains
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.