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Howell County, MO
6 cities and towns and 9 ZIP codes in Howell County, Missouri.
Population
40,383
Land area
927sq mi
People per sq mi
44
ZIP codes
9
Cities and towns in Howell County
Howell County at a glance
- Howell County is 52% less dense than Missouri as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $50,993 a year, 28% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $173,000 (25% below Missouri) and median rent is $733 a month.
- The biggest population centers are West Plains (12,441), Mountain View (2,658) and Willow Springs (2,279).
Local data for Howell County, MO
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools15
- Colleges2
- Libraries3
- Banks18
- Post Offices3
- Parks16
- Grocery Stores20
- Restaurants114
- Affordable Housing3
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers2
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment6
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places5
Housing and community stats
Howell County, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$50,993
Poverty rate
20.3%
Median home value
$173,000
Prices +5.3% in a year
Median rent
$733/mo
Homeownership
70.3%
Bachelor's or higher
17.8%
Median age
40.3
Average commute
23.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,479), Irish Americans (4,890), Italian Americans (926).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.5%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,649
15,327 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$45,995
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$337M
FY 2026, $8,468 per person
PPP loans
$64.6M
2,248 loans, 10,638 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$107K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Howell County, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.6%
- Carpooled14.1%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home6.0%
Average one-way commute: 23.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Howell County, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
975
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
24
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 22°F
49.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Howell County, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.8%
U.S. 33.3% +3.5 pts
Diabetes
14.9%
U.S. 12.1% +2.8 pts
Smoking
21.6%
U.S. 12.8% +8.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.8%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Howell County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Howell County, MO?
- West Plains is the largest city or town in Howell County, with about 12,441 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Howell County?
- Howell County includes 9 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 65548, 65626, 65688, 65775, 65777.
- What is the population of Howell County, MO?
- About 40,383 people live in Howell County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Howell County?
- Howell County borders Texas County, Fulton County, AR, Douglas County, Ozark County, Oregon County, Shannon County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023