Checked
Phelps County, MO
5 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Phelps County, Missouri.
Population
45,194
Land area
672sq mi
People per sq mi
67
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Phelps County
Phelps County at a glance
- Phelps County is 25% less dense than Missouri as a whole.
- It is the 23rd most populous of 115 counties in Missouri.
- Households here earn a median of $58,396 a year, 17% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $206,500 (10% below Missouri) and median rent is $798 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Rolla (20,287), St. James (3,916) and Doolittle (561).
Local data for Phelps County, MO
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes6
- Schools17
- Colleges2
- Libraries3
- Banks18
- Post Offices3
- Parks26
- Grocery Stores11
- Restaurants114
- Affordable Housing2
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers3
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers8
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment6
- Private Schools2
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities3
- Historic Places5
Housing and community stats
Phelps County, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$58,396
Poverty rate
16.8%
Median home value
$206,500
Prices +6.5% in a year
Median rent
$798/mo
Homeownership
61.7%
Bachelor's or higher
32.4%
Median age
35.8
Average commute
19.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (8,033), Irish Americans (5,077), Italian Americans (1,574).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.2%
Sep 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,379
19,609 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$49,505
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$327M
FY 2026, $7,329 per person
PPP loans
$64.7M
1,909 loans, 9,399 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$170K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Phelps County, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.7%
- Carpooled14.9%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked4.0%
- Bicycle0.8%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
- Worked from home7.4%
Average one-way commute: 19.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Phelps County, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: heat wave
Storm events since 1996
615
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
76
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 22°F
47.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Phelps County, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.6%
U.S. 33.3% +1.3 pts
Diabetes
11.7%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.4%
U.S. 12.8% +3.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.7%
U.S. 11.1% -2.4 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Phelps County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Phelps County, MO?
- Rolla is the largest city or town in Phelps County, with about 20,287 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Phelps County?
- Phelps County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 65401, 65409, 65436, 65461, 65462.
- What is the population of Phelps County, MO?
- About 45,194 people live in Phelps County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Phelps County?
- Phelps County borders Pulaski County, Texas County, Crawford County, Gasconade County, Dent County, Maries County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023