St. James: Demographics & People
St. James is home to 3,916 people, in 1,596 households. Population shrank 0.1% from 3,922 (2022) to 3,916 (2024). Median age 49.3 years. (13.5y older than Phelps County; 10.1y older than Missouri). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 90% White (non-Hispanic) and 3% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.10). 68% of households are family-led. County is losing 93 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household.
- 32% non-family households (singles, roommates).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.1% from 3,922 (2022) to 3,916 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,910 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 44,638 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,922 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,916 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 3,916 people |
| Population Estimate | 3,902 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 49.3y is 10.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 49.3 years (vs Missouri 39.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Population under 18 | 908 |
| Median age | 49.3 years (vs Missouri 39.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 3,916 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.10 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 3,622 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 17 |
| Asian residents | 57 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 128 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 10.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 94.7% |
| Black population | 0.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.4% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 90.2% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,071 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 790 |
| Share born in this state | 78.4% |
| Share born in another state | 21.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 20.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 96 |
| From Europe | 26 |
| From Africa | 47 |
Households & Family Composition
1,596 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 68% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,077 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 966 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,077 |
| Married couples with children | 228 |
| Single-parent households | 35 |
| Average household size | 2.20 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 24.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 49 |
| Family households | 1,087 households |
| Households that are families | 68.1% |
| Total households | 1,596 households |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 20.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 93 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 20.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 38,018 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 38,111 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -93 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 300 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.1% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 282 residents live in group quarters (7.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 282 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 8 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | MO-08 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 29,161 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 29 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 161 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Phelps |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 14.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 20.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 29,161 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Phelps County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,261 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 29,161 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Phelps County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 52.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 45.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 46.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 44,573 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 7.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 12 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,916, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,916 people |
| Town Summary · County | Phelps County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade