Bates County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Bates County, Missouri had an estimated 16,394 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 16,037, across 837 square miles. County output reached $626.5 m in 2024, 344 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 14 7(a) approvals worth $4.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Bates County
How many people live in Bates County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202416,186
- Households6,158
- Average household size2.63
- Median household income$60,733
- Median age41.4
- Median gross rent$786 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$170,800
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher14.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,271
- Population under 183,689
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over3,131
- Share 65 and over19.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 649,366
- Civilian labor force7,574
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.6 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties64th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2087th of 3,222
Bates County is the 64th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 19.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Bates County
Is Bates County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202416,394
- Census 2020 base population16,037
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.23 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024168
- Births, 2024186
- Deaths, 2024203
- Natural change, 2024-17
- Net domestic migration, 2024185
- Net international migration, 20242
- Total net migration, 2024187
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024547
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1095th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.23 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Bates County
Where are people moving to Bates County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving463
- People arriving, from those returns873
- Tax returns filed by households leaving403
- Net household movement60
- Adjusted gross income arriving$21.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,950
- Average income of a leaving household$48,983
- Largest single originCass County (120 households)
- Largest single destinationCass County (126 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 120 | 225 | $5.5 m |
| Jackson County | 48 | 81 | $2.3 m |
| Vernon County | 35 | 70 | $1.4 m |
| Johnson County | 20 | 28 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $3,033 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Cass County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Bates County
What is the Bates County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$626.5 m
- County GDP, 2023$617.1 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.5 percent
- GDP change over five years22.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes63rd of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2237th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,704
Output grew 1.5 percent in the latest year and 22.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Bates County
Employment by industry in Bates County
- Covered employment, annual average3,673
- Establishments reporting466
- Average annual pay$42,876
- Average weekly wage$825
- Retail trade, employment579
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,616
- Health care and social assistance, employment504
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$36,118
- Accommodation and food services, employment316
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,344
- Construction, employment224
- Construction, average annual pay$56,160
- Manufacturing, employment152
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment134
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 579 | 52 | $32,616 |
| Health care and social assistance | 504 | 90 | $36,118 |
| Accommodation and food services | 316 | 26 | $18,344 |
| Construction | 224 | 48 | $56,160 |
| Manufacturing | 152 | 16 | $36,829 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 134 | 23 | $56,269 |
| Wholesale trade | 90 | 11 | $56,756 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 90 | 22 | $55,548 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 579 jobs, 15.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Bates County
How many businesses are in Bates County?
- Establishments, all industries344
- Employment at those establishments2,738
- Annual payroll$113.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bates County
Building permits in Bates County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20249
- Declared construction value permitted$1.6 m
- Single family units authorized9
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$173,333
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.5
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Bates County
SBA loans in Bates County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded14
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$4.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$345,793
- Median 7(a) approval$125,000
- Largest single approval$2,150,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)57
- Jobs per approval4.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals11
- Median 7(a) term96 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer0.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms0
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter13
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals7.1 percent
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.0 m
- Average 504 approval$347,000
- Median 504 approval$366,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval2.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.7
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$5.9 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bates County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Bates County
Do SBA loans in Bates County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bates County
SBA lending by place in Bates County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Butler, approvals9
- Adrian, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Butler | 9 | $4,180,400 |
| Adrian | 5 | $660,700 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bates County
How large is Bates County?
- Land area837 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties6th of 115
- Width, east to west30.6 mi
- Height, north to south30.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land19
- Establishments per square mile0.41
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bates County
Flood risk in Bates County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Bates County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290786
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate50.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Bates County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Bates County (community 290786), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Bates County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 50.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Bates County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Bates County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202416,186
- Households6,158
- Average household size2.63
- Median household income$60,733
- Median age41.4
Common questions
Bates County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Bates County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 16,394 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 16,186, in 6,158 households, ranking 64th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Bates County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.23 percent since the 2020 census base of 16,037, to 16,394 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 186 births against 203 deaths, with net migration of 187. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Bates County?
$60,733. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,800, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $786 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Bates County?
344 establishments, employing 2,738 people with an annual payroll of $113.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Bates County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 579 jobs, 15.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,673 jobs at an average annual pay of $42,876, or $825 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Bates County?
14 7(a) approvals totaling $4.8 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $125,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Bates County?
9 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.6 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Bates County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Bates County come from?
The largest single origin is Cass County, with 120 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,950 against $48,983 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Bates County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Bates County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Bates County
Cities and places in Bates.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Bates County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | city | 4,668 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Adrian | city | 1,857 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Rich Hill | city | 1,453 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Drexel | city | 924 | None recorded | 6.6 percent here, 93.4 percent Cass County |
| Hume | town | 209 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rockville | city | 153 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Amsterdam | city | 128 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Amoret | city | 120 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Passaic | town | 93 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Foster | village | 65 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Merwin | village | 33 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby