Howell County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Howell County, Missouri had an estimated 40,762 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 39,754, across 927 square miles. County output reached $1.76 bn in 2024, 1,076 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 20 7(a) approvals worth $5.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Howell County
How many people live in Howell County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202440,383
- Households15,965
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$50,993
- Median age40.3
- Median gross rent$733 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$173,000
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,491
- Population under 189,741
- Share under 1824.1 percent
- Population 65 and over8,046
- Share 65 and over19.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,596
- Civilian labor force17,705
- Unemployment rate5.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.8 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties29th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1198th of 3,222
Howell County is the 29th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.1 percent against 19.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Howell County
Is Howell County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202440,762
- Census 2020 base population39,754
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.54 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202455
- Births, 2024450
- Deaths, 2024645
- Natural change, 2024-195
- Net domestic migration, 2024254
- Net international migration, 2024-5
- Total net migration, 2024249
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,730
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents998th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.54 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.
Howell County
Where are people moving to Howell County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving988
- People arriving, from those returns2,103
- Tax returns filed by households leaving750
- Net household movement238
- Adjusted gross income arriving$48.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$17.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$49,234
- Average income of a leaving household$41,437
- Largest single originOregon County (77 households)
- Largest single destinationGreene County (77 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon County | 77 | 163 | $2.5 m |
| Texas County | 51 | 94 | $1.9 m |
| Greene County | 47 | 81 | $1.7 m |
| Shannon County | 39 | 68 | $1.0 m |
| Ozark County | 36 | 77 | $1.8 m |
| Wright County | 22 | 40 | $729,000 |
| Baxter County | 21 | 41 | $883,000 |
| Christian County | 21 | 49 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $7,797 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Oregon 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.
Howell County
What is the Howell County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.76 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.67 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.5 percent
- GDP change over five years32.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes31st of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1385th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$43,605
Output grew 5.5 percent in the latest year and 32.1 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.
Howell County
Employment by industry in Howell County
- Covered employment, annual average15,361
- Establishments reporting1,383
- Average annual pay$44,674
- Average weekly wage$859
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,580
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$50,900
- Manufacturing, employment2,167
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$49,235
- Retail trade, employment1,992
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,906
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,322
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,424
- Wholesale trade, employment736
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment584
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 3,580 | 396 | $50,900 |
| Manufacturing | 2,167 | 74 | $49,235 |
| Retail trade | 1,992 | 188 | $32,906 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,322 | 78 | $19,424 |
| Wholesale trade | 736 | 55 | $52,780 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 584 | 74 | $52,390 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 393 | 36 | $31,065 |
| Other services, except public administration | 377 | 85 | $38,876 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,580 jobs, 23.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Howell County
How many businesses are in Howell County?
- Establishments, all industries1,076
- Employment at those establishments15,374
- Annual payroll$647.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.6
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.
Howell County
Building permits in Howell County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202453
- Declared construction value permitted$9.8 m
- Single family units authorized28
- Multifamily units authorized25
- Multifamily share of units47.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$185,839
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.3
Multifamily is 47.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Howell County
SBA loans in Howell County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded20
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$280,445
- Median 7(a) approval$170,300
- 10th percentile approval$39,100
- 90th percentile approval$681,950
- Largest single approval$900,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)114
- Jobs per approval5.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals19
- Median 7(a) term152 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer40.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter9
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.4 m
- Average 504 approval$678,000
- Median 504 approval$678,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval1.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved1.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$7.0 m
The average approval of $280,445 sits well above the median of $170,300, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 40.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Howell County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Howell County
Do SBA loans in Howell County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure13
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 6 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.
Howell County
SBA lending by place in Howell County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- West Plains, approvals17
- Mountain View, approvals1
- Koshkonong, approvals1
- Willow Springs, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| West Plains | 17 | $5,209,900 |
| Mountain View | 1 | $297,000 |
| Koshkonong | 1 | $62,000 |
| Willow Springs | 1 | $40,000 |
West Plains accounts for 17 approvals against 1 in Mountain View. 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.
Howell County
How large is Howell County?
- Land area927 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties3rd of 115
- Width, east to west25.8 mi
- Height, north to south38.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land44
- Establishments per square mile1.16
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.
Howell County
Flood risk in Howell County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Howell County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 290806
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate60.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Howell 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 Howell County (community 290806), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Howell 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. 60.0 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 Howell 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 Howell County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202440,383
- Households15,965
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$50,993
- Median age40.3
Common questions
Howell County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Howell County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 40,762 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 40,383, in 15,965 households, ranking 29th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Howell County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.54 percent since the 2020 census base of 39,754, to 40,762 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 450 births against 645 deaths, with net migration of 249. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Howell County?
$50,993. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $173,000, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $733 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Howell County?
1,076 establishments, employing 15,374 people with an annual payroll of $647.6 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 Howell County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 3,580 jobs, 23.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,361 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,674, or $859 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Howell County?
20 7(a) approvals totaling $5.6 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $170,300, plus 2 504 approvals worth $1.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Howell County?
53 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $9.8 m. Multifamily was 47.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Howell 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 Howell County come from?
The largest single origin is Oregon County, with 77 households. Arriving households report an average income of $49,234 against $41,437 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Howell 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 Howell 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.
Howell County
Cities and places in Howell.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Howell County. All 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Plains | city | 12,441 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Mountain View | city | 2,658 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Willow Springs | city | 2,279 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pomona | CDP | 178 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brandsville | city | 139 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| South Fork | CDP | 67 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 20 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Howell County, the largest being Koshkonong (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby