Scott County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Scott County, Missouri had an estimated 37,957 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,054, across 420 square miles. County output reached $2.22 bn in 2024, 970 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 21 7(a) approvals worth $12.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Scott County
How many people live in Scott County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,933
- Households15,327
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$62,782
- Median age39.7
- Median gross rent$873 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$154,400
- Home value to household income2.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over25,710
- Population under 189,098
- Share under 1824.0 percent
- Population 65 and over7,099
- Share 65 and over18.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,736
- Civilian labor force18,475
- Unemployment rate2.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.1 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties31st of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1254th of 3,222
Scott County is the 31st largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 2.5 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.0 percent against 18.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Scott County
Is Scott County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202437,957
- Census 2020 base population38,054
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.25 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202434
- Births, 2024468
- Deaths, 2024529
- Natural change, 2024-61
- Net domestic migration, 202464
- Net international migration, 202432
- Total net migration, 202496
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024156
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1942nd of 3,144
The county has lost 0.25 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.
Scott County
Where are people moving to Scott County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,076
- People arriving, from those returns1,994
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,055
- Net household movement21
- Adjusted gross income arriving$41.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-2.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$38,463
- Average income of a leaving household$41,610
- Largest single originCape Girardeau County (281 households)
- Largest single destinationCape Girardeau County (303 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau County | 281 | 515 | $11.0 m |
| New Madrid County | 154 | 295 | $6.0 m |
| Mississippi County | 89 | 167 | $3.0 m |
| Stoddard County | 79 | 171 | $2.9 m |
| Bollinger County | 25 | 53 | $1.1 m |
| Butler County | 25 | 41 | $548,000 |
Households arriving report $3,147 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Cape Girardeau 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.
Scott County
What is the Scott County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.22 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.13 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.2 percent
- GDP change over five years31.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes25th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1190th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$58,501
Output grew 4.2 percent in the latest year and 31.4 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.
Scott County
Employment by industry in Scott County
- Covered employment, annual average16,179
- Establishments reporting1,306
- Average annual pay$49,793
- Average weekly wage$958
- Manufacturing, employment2,664
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$60,507
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,398
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$57,032
- Retail trade, employment1,180
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,053
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,116
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,595
- Construction, employment575
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment554
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,664 | 60 | $60,507 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,398 | 63 | $57,032 |
| Retail trade | 1,180 | 127 | $36,053 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,116 | 78 | $23,595 |
| Construction | 575 | 94 | $55,861 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 554 | 41 | $43,281 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 409 | 63 | $55,512 |
| Other services, except public administration | 370 | 65 | $46,447 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,664 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Scott County
How many businesses are in Scott County?
- Establishments, all industries970
- Employment at those establishments14,139
- Annual payroll$678.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.6
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.
Scott County
Building permits in Scott County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024119
- Declared construction value permitted$12.0 m
- Single family units authorized79
- Multifamily units authorized40
- Multifamily share of units33.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$100,571
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.8
Single-family homes are 66.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Scott County
SBA loans in Scott County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded21
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$12.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$612,043
- Median 7(a) approval$300,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,645,000
- Largest single approval$2,905,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)208
- Jobs per approval9.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals17
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter15
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals28.6 percent
- Most active lenderSouthern Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded8
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.3 m
- Average 504 approval$287,875
- Median 504 approval$246,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval1.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.1
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (7)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$15.2 m
The average approval of $612,043 sits well above the median of $300,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.5 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.
Scott County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Scott County
Do SBA loans in Scott County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure18
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 2 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.
Scott County
SBA lending by place in Scott County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Sikeston, approvals12
- Scott City, approvals4
- Oran, approvals3
- Benton, approvals1
- Chaffee, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Sikeston | 12 | $8,269,700 |
| Scott City | 4 | $2,845,600 |
| Oran | 3 | $1,582,300 |
| Benton | 1 | $105,300 |
| Chaffee | 1 | $50,000 |
Sikeston accounts for 12 approvals against 4 in Scott City. 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.
Scott County
How large is Scott County?
- Land area420 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties104th of 115
- Width, east to west25.6 mi
- Height, north to south26.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land90
- Establishments per square mile2.31
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.
Scott County
Flood risk in Scott County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Scott County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290837
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book14
- Of those, participating in the NFIP13
- NFIP participation rate92.9 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Scott County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Scott County (community 290837), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Scott County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 92.9 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 Scott 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 Scott County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202437,933
- Households15,327
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$62,782
- Median age39.7
Common questions
Scott County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Scott County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 37,957 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 37,933, in 15,327 households, ranking 31st of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Scott County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.25 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,054, to 37,957 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 468 births against 529 deaths, with net migration of 96. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Scott County?
$62,782. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,400, which is 2.5 times income, and median gross rent is $873 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Scott County?
970 establishments, employing 14,139 people with an annual payroll of $678.6 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 Scott County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,664 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,179 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,793, or $958 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Scott County?
21 7(a) approvals totaling $12.9 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $300,000, plus 8 504 approvals worth $2.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Scott County?
119 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $12.0 m. Multifamily was 33.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Scott County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Scott County come from?
The largest single origin is Cape Girardeau County, with 281 households. Arriving households report an average income of $38,463 against $41,610 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Scott 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 Scott 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.
Scott County
Cities and places in Scott.
17 Census places lie wholly or partly in Scott County. 16 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | city | 40,344 | None recorded | 4.3 percent here, 95.7 percent Cape Girardeau County |
| Sikeston | city | 16,320 | 12 | 74.8 percent here, 25.2 percent New Madrid County |
| Scott City | city | 4,371 | 4 | 90.7 percent here, 9.3 percent Cape Girardeau County |
| Chaffee | city | 3,026 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Oran | city | 1,033 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Miner | city | 950 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Benton | city | 826 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Kelso | village | 603 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Morley | city | 540 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Hamburg | CDP | 247 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vanduser | village | 198 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Blodgett | city | 196 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Haywood City | village | 180 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Diehlstadt | village | 113 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Perkins | CDP | 106 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Commerce | village | 64 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lambert | village | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |