Buchanan County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Buchanan County, Missouri had an estimated 83,574 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 84,794, across 408 square miles. County output reached $6.73 bn in 2024, 2,027 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 65 7(a) approvals worth $70.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Buchanan County
How many people live in Buchanan County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202483,568
- Households33,439
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$62,158
- Median age38.9
- Median gross rent$902 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$166,300
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over57,137
- Population under 1818,644
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over14,577
- Share 65 and over17.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6450,347
- Civilian labor force40,410
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.2 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties14th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included700th of 3,222
Buchanan County is the 14th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 17.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Buchanan County
Is Buchanan County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202483,574
- Census 2020 base population84,794
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.44 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024373
- Births, 2024996
- Deaths, 20241,033
- Natural change, 2024-37
- Net domestic migration, 2024-7
- Net international migration, 2024415
- Total net migration, 2024408
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,595
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2341st of 3,144
The county has lost 1.44 percent of its population 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.
Buchanan County
Where are people moving to Buchanan County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,830
- People arriving, from those returns3,211
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,074
- Net household movement-244
- Adjusted gross income arriving$83.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-35.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,608
- Average income of a leaving household$57,352
- Largest single originAndrew County (231 households)
- Largest single destinationAndrew County (297 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew County | 231 | 424 | $11.6 m |
| Platte County | 118 | 201 | $7.4 m |
| Jackson County | 108 | 175 | $4.2 m |
| Clay County | 81 | 137 | $5.1 m |
| DeKalb County | 64 | 101 | $2.2 m |
| Doniphan County | 59 | 105 | $2.0 m |
| Clinton County | 59 | 104 | $2.5 m |
| Nodaway County | 40 | 62 | $1.5 m |
Households arriving report $11,744 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Andrew 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.
Buchanan County
What is the Buchanan County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$6.73 bn
- County GDP, 2023$6.43 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.7 percent
- GDP change over five years27.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes12th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes601st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$80,543
Output grew 4.7 percent in the latest year and 27.2 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.
Buchanan County
Employment by industry in Buchanan County
- Covered employment, annual average45,842
- Establishments reporting2,623
- Average annual pay$58,558
- Average weekly wage$1,126
- Manufacturing, employment11,858
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,900
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,723
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$65,056
- Retail trade, employment5,280
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,437
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,658
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,474
- Construction, employment2,157
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,746
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 11,858 | 92 | $72,900 |
| Health care and social assistance | 7,723 | 792 | $65,056 |
| Retail trade | 5,280 | 296 | $33,437 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,658 | 200 | $22,474 |
| Construction | 2,157 | 184 | $90,775 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,746 | 80 | $56,433 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,593 | 94 | $73,044 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,451 | 112 | $38,838 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 11,858 jobs, 25.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Buchanan County
How many businesses are in Buchanan County?
- Establishments, all industries2,027
- Employment at those establishments43,357
- Annual payroll$2.43 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.3
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.
Buchanan County
Building permits in Buchanan County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202472
- Declared construction value permitted$16.4 m
- Single family units authorized72
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$227,146
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.2
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.
Buchanan County
SBA loans in Buchanan County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded65
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$70.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,083,657
- Median 7(a) approval$600,200
- 10th percentile approval$60,300
- 90th percentile approval$3,154,600
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,282
- Jobs per approval19.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active29
- Distinct industries receiving approvals32
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer27.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms18
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter43
- Franchise loans14
- Franchise share of approvals21.5 percent
- 504 approvals recorded28
- 504 gross approval dollars$12.4 m
- Average 504 approval$441,464
- Median 504 approval$265,500
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval12.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved27.6
- Most active CDCMo-Kan Development, Inc. (23)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$82.8 m
The average approval of $1,083,657 sits well above the median of $600,200, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 27.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Buchanan County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Buchanan County
Do SBA loans in Buchanan County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full9
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Exempt from disclosure46
- Status: Cancelled10
Only 9 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.
Buchanan County
SBA lending by place in Buchanan County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- St. Joseph, approvals62
- De Kalb, approvals1
- Faucett, approvals1
- Agency, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | 62 | $70,117,700 |
| De Kalb | 1 | $145,000 |
| Faucett | 1 | $100,000 |
| Agency | 1 | $75,000 |
St. Joseph accounts for 62 approvals against 1 in De Kalb. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buchanan County
How large is Buchanan County?
- Land area408 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties109th of 115
- Width, east to west27.3 mi
- Height, north to south20 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land205
- Establishments per square mile4.97
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.
Buchanan County
Flood risk in Buchanan County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Buchanan County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290040
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate85.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Buchanan County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Buchanan County (community 290040), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Buchanan County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 85.7 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202483,568
- Households33,439
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$62,158
- Median age38.9
Common questions
Buchanan County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Buchanan County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 83,574 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 83,568, in 33,439 households, ranking 14th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Buchanan County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.44 percent since the 2020 census base of 84,794, to 83,574 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 996 births against 1,033 deaths, with net migration of 408. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Buchanan County?
$62,158. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $166,300, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $902 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Buchanan County?
2,027 establishments, employing 43,357 people with an annual payroll of $2.43 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Buchanan County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 11,858 jobs, 25.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 45,842 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,558, or $1,126 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Buchanan County?
65 7(a) approvals totaling $70.4 m since FY2020, across 29 lenders, with a median approval of $600,200, plus 28 504 approvals worth $12.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Buchanan County?
72 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $16.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Buchanan County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 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 Buchanan County come from?
The largest single origin is Andrew County, with 231 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,608 against $57,352 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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.
Buchanan County
Cities and places in Buchanan.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Buchanan County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | city | 71,236 | 62 | Wholly in this county |
| Gower | city | 1,799 | None recorded | 6.7 percent here, 93.3 percent Clinton County |
| Agency | village | 871 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Dearborn | city | 557 | None recorded | 13.9 percent here, 86.1 percent Platte County |
| De Kalb | town | 518 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Easton | city | 336 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rushville | village | 260 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Faucett | CDP | 114 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lewis and Clark Village | town | 101 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby