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Bolivar, MO
City in Polk County, Missouri.
Population
11,170
Land area
8.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,358
ZIP codes
0
Bolivar and its ZIP codes
Bolivar at a glance
- Bolivar is about 15 times as dense as Missouri as a whole.
- It is the 80th most populous of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.
- Households here earn a median of $49,622 a year, 30% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $201,600 (12% below Missouri) and median rent is $812 a month.
Local data for Bolivar, MO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Bolivar, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$49,622
Poverty rate
18.8%
Median home value
$201,600
Median rent
$812/mo
Homeownership
54.0%
Bachelor's or higher
27.9%
Median age
34.1
Average commute
22.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,469), Irish Americans (1,086), Italian Americans (230).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Polk County. PPP loans are for Bolivar.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Aug 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,058
9,202 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$47,173
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$190M
FY 2026, $6,032 per person
How people get to work
Bolivar, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.9%
- Carpooled7.7%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked3.0%
- Bicycle0.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.5%
- Worked from home10.1%
Average one-way commute: 22.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Bolivar, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
905
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
3
0.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 22°F
46.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Bolivar, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.6%
U.S. 33.3% +4.3 pts
Diabetes
12.1%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
17.8%
U.S. 12.8% +5.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.1%
U.S. 11.1% -1.0 pts
Cities near Bolivar
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| AldrichVillage | 8 mi | 0.1 |
| Fair PlayCity | 8.8 mi | 0.4 |
| MorrisvilleTown | 8.8 mi | 0.7 |
| HalfwayVillage | 10 mi | 2 |
| Pleasant HopeCity | 12 mi | 1.5 |
| FlemingtonVillage | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| Walnut GroveCity | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| HumansvilleCity | 16 mi | 1.2 |
| DadevilleVillage | 16 mi | 1 |
| BuffaloCity | 18 mi | 3 |
| LouisburgVillage | 19 mi | 0.5 |
| WeaubleauCity | 21 mi | 0.9 |
| Umber View HeightsVillage | 21 mi | 0.1 |
| Fair GroveCity | 21 mi | 3.2 |
| StocktonCity | 21 mi | 2.1 |
| Ash GroveCity | 21 mi | 1.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Bolivar, MO in?
- Bolivar is in Polk County, Missouri.
- What is the population of Bolivar, MO?
- About 11,170 people live in Bolivar, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Bolivar?
- Nearby places include Aldrich (8 mi), Fair Play (8.8 mi), Morrisville (8.8 mi), Halfway (10 mi), Pleasant Hope (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023