RANK #210 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 22 MO · POP 124,357
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Jasper County, Missouri, in the southwest part of the state, is perhaps best known for Joplin, its largest city, and Carthage, the county seat, nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City." The county is part of the Joplin Metropolitan Statistical Area. Commutes are generally short, with residents averaging under 20 minutes to work. Outdoor recreation opportunities include numerous trails for hiking, biking, and running, such as the Ruby Jack Trail and the Frisco Greenway Trail. The area offers a blend of natural scenery and historical sites, including the historic Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage.
Life in Jasper County offers a balance of community and affordability, with many residents owning their homes. Public schools in the county are generally above average. The local economy is experiencing growth, with ongoing developments in infrastructure and various sectors. This includes investment in areas like data centers and energy, contributing to job opportunities and supporting the county's continued expansion.
Jasper County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.0% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 7.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Jasper County Powered Data Park
Geronimo Power
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Foxtrot Solar Energy LLC
Evergy Missouri West
|
$214M | Planned |
|
Jasper Battery/Storage
Unknown
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Kings Point Wind Farm
Liberty Utilities
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Missouri Route 96 Corridor Upgrades (Carthage)
Missouri Department of Transportation
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 79/100, Jasper County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $60,694 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MO.
By national standards, Jasper County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $166,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $973/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Jasper County is attracting residents (population +0.7% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -3.8%. Housing values changed +1.0% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.11% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Jasper County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.