Phelps County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Phelps County, Missouri had an estimated 45,672 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,638, across 672 square miles. County output reached $2.14 bn in 2024, 1,050 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 35 7(a) approvals worth $20.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Phelps County
How many people live in Phelps County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,194
- Households17,329
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$58,396
- Median age35.8
- Median gross rent$798 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$206,500
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher32.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,524
- Population under 189,537
- Share under 1821.1 percent
- Population 65 and over7,713
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6427,944
- Civilian labor force20,232
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.7 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties23rd of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1098th of 3,222
Phelps County is the 23rd largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.1 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Phelps County
Is Phelps County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202445,672
- Census 2020 base population44,638
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.32 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024155
- Births, 2024432
- Deaths, 2024493
- Natural change, 2024-61
- Net domestic migration, 2024-210
- Net international migration, 2024426
- Total net migration, 2024216
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024565
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1068th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.32 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.
Phelps County
Where are people moving to Phelps County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,269
- People arriving, from those returns2,353
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,326
- Net household movement-57
- Adjusted gross income arriving$58.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-3.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$46,287
- Average income of a leaving household$47,216
- Largest single originDent County (93 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Louis County (74 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dent County | 93 | 199 | $3.6 m |
| Crawford County | 87 | 174 | $3.2 m |
| Pulaski County | 83 | 174 | $3.3 m |
| Greene County | 60 | 99 | $2.4 m |
| Maries County | 51 | 109 | $2.2 m |
| St. Louis County | 48 | 73 | $2.1 m |
| Texas County | 34 | 67 | $1.1 m |
| Franklin County | 33 | 57 | $981,000 |
Households arriving report $929 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Dent 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.
Phelps County
What is the Phelps County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.14 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.03 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.4 percent
- GDP change over five years28.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes26th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1223rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,313
Output grew 5.4 percent in the latest year and 28.8 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.
Phelps County
Employment by industry in Phelps County
- Covered employment, annual average19,225
- Establishments reporting1,299
- Average annual pay$50,599
- Average weekly wage$973
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,790
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$58,552
- Retail trade, employment2,668
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,297
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,905
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,984
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,783
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$59,903
- Manufacturing, employment1,013
- Wholesale trade, employment644
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 2,790 | 379 | $58,552 |
| Retail trade | 2,668 | 168 | $33,297 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,905 | 117 | $20,984 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,783 | 43 | $59,903 |
| Manufacturing | 1,013 | 34 | $66,862 |
| Wholesale trade | 644 | 47 | $52,369 |
| Construction | 530 | 88 | $57,225 |
| Finance and insurance | 401 | 71 | $58,956 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 2,790 jobs, 14.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Phelps County
How many businesses are in Phelps County?
- Establishments, all industries1,050
- Employment at those establishments15,928
- Annual payroll$712.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.2
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.
Phelps County
Building permits in Phelps County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024152
- Declared construction value permitted$18.9 m
- Single family units authorized41
- Multifamily units authorized111
- Multifamily share of units73.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$124,467
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.8
Multifamily is 73.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Phelps County
SBA loans in Phelps County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded35
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$20.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$578,680
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$52,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,047,360
- Largest single approval$4,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)531
- Jobs per approval15.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active18
- Distinct industries receiving approvals24
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter25
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals22.9 percent
- 504 approvals recorded17
- 504 gross approval dollars$9.9 m
- Average 504 approval$584,941
- Median 504 approval$272,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval13.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved23.3
- Most active CDCSBA CLSC Servicing (11)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$30.2 m
The average approval of $578,680 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.9 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.
Phelps County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Phelps County
Do SBA loans in Phelps County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full7
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure20
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 8 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.
Phelps County
SBA lending by place in Phelps County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Rolla, approvals25
- St. James, approvals6
- Newburg, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Rolla | 25 | $17,098,300 |
| St. James | 6 | $1,457,000 |
| Newburg | 4 | $1,698,500 |
Rolla accounts for 25 approvals against 6 in St. James. 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.
Phelps County
How large is Phelps County?
- Land area672 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties36th of 115
- Width, east to west27.5 mi
- Height, north to south38.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land67
- Establishments per square mile1.56
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.
Phelps County
Flood risk in Phelps County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Phelps County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290824
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Phelps 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 Phelps County (community 290824), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Phelps 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. 100.0 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 Phelps 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 Phelps County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,194
- Households17,329
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$58,396
- Median age35.8
Common questions
Phelps County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Phelps County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 45,672 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 45,194, in 17,329 households, ranking 23rd of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Phelps County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.32 percent since the 2020 census base of 44,638, to 45,672 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 432 births against 493 deaths, with net migration of 216. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Phelps County?
$58,396. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,500, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $798 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Phelps County?
1,050 establishments, employing 15,928 people with an annual payroll of $712.4 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 Phelps County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 2,790 jobs, 14.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 19,225 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,599, or $973 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Phelps County?
35 7(a) approvals totaling $20.3 m since FY2020, across 18 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 17 504 approvals worth $9.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Phelps County?
152 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $18.9 m. Multifamily was 73.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Phelps 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 Phelps County come from?
The largest single origin is Dent County, with 93 households. Arriving households report an average income of $46,287 against $47,216 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Phelps 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 Phelps 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.
Phelps County
Cities and places in Phelps.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Phelps County. All 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla | city | 20,287 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| St. James | city | 3,916 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Doolittle | city | 561 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Newburg | city | 331 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Edgar Springs | city | 224 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby