The Joplin metro is home to 202,258 people (up 14.0% over five years), with a median household income of $60,146. Typical rent of $1,242/month works out to 24.8% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Joplin's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.8% |
| Manufacturing | 17.6% |
| Retail trade | 11.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.4% |
| Professional & management | 7.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.8% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Joplin market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,242/month suggests a household income around $50,000/year. The metro's median household income is $60,146.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.8%), Manufacturing (17.6%), Retail trade (11.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).