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St. James, MO
City in Phelps County, Missouri.
Population
3,916
Land area
4.2sq mi
People per sq mi
923
ZIP codes
0
St. James and its ZIP codes
St. James at a glance
- St. James is about 10 times as dense as Missouri as a whole.
- It is the 177th most populous of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.
- Households here earn a median of $53,453 a year, 24% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $142,000 (38% below Missouri) and median rent is $695 a month.
Local data for St. James, MO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
St. James, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$53,453
Poverty rate
19.4%
Median home value
$142,000
Median rent
$695/mo
Homeownership
58.1%
Bachelor's or higher
20.3%
Median age
49.3
Average commute
20.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (695), German Americans (679), Italian Americans (311).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Phelps County. PPP loans are for St. James.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Aug 2026, -0.4 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
How people get to work
St. James, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.0%
- Carpooled15.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.1%
- Bicycle2.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home9.5%
Average one-way commute: 20.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
St. James, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: heat wave
Storm events since 1996
615
Countywide, mostly 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 zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in St. James, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.8%
U.S. 33.3% +1.5 pts
Diabetes
12.7%
U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts
Smoking
17.0%
U.S. 12.8% +4.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.1%
U.S. 11.1% -2.0 pts
Cities near St. James
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| RollaCity | 8.4 mi | 12.1 |
| Indian LakeCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.4 |
| CubaCity | 13 mi | 3.2 |
| DoolittleCity | 15 mi | 2.8 |
| SteelvilleCity | 15 mi | 2.4 |
| NewburgCity | 16 mi | 0.6 |
| LeasburgVillage | 19 mi | 0.4 |
| BelleCity | 21 mi | 1.3 |
| BlandCity | 21 mi | 0.6 |
| ViennaCity | 22 mi | 1.1 |
| BourbonCity | 24 mi | 1.3 |
| Edgar SpringsCity | 24 mi | 0.5 |
| SalemCity | 25 mi | 3.5 |
| OwensvilleCity | 25 mi | 2.6 |
| St. CloudVillage | 26 mi | 1.2 |
| DixonCity | 26 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is St. James, MO in?
- St. James is in Phelps County, Missouri.
- What is the population of St. James, MO?
- About 3,916 people live in St. James, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near St. James?
- Nearby places include Rolla (8.4 mi), Indian Lake (11 mi), Cuba (13 mi), Doolittle (15 mi), Steelville (15 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023