63965 ZIP Code — Van Buren, MO

Carter County, Missouri

ZIP code 63965 is located in Van Buren, Missouri, within Carter County. It covers approximately 225.16 square miles and serves a population of 2,258 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 573.

About ZIP code 63965

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $141,600. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 61%.

Median household income is $30,899. Poverty affects 33% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 22% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 68% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is sales and office, with manufacturing as the leading industry. The average commute of 20 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 9% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (22%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include a notable veteran presence at 12% of civilians, above the national average of 7%; and disability rates above the national average at 37%.

Overall, ZIP code 63965 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a strong veteran community, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

2,258

population

225.16

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

63965 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 63965

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 63965. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Van Buren	Acceptable
Van Buren	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

63941 Fremont (12.5 mi) 63937 Ellsinore (13.4 mi) 63943 Grandin (14.8 mi) 63952 Mill Spring (17.3 mi) 65588 Winona (18.1 mi) 65588 Winona (18.1 mi) 63638 Ellington (18.9 mi) 63957 Piedmont (19.1 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	2,258
Population density	10 / sq mi
State FIPS	29
County FIPS	035

Geography
Land area	225.16 sq mi
Water area	1.12 sq mi
Latitude	36.9699
Longitude	-90.9497
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	573

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	60.7%	55.3%	43.8%
$50k – $100k	23.7%	25.6%	31.5%
$100k – $200k	15.6%	18.5%	19.5%
Over $200k	0.0%	0.6%	5.2%

Demographics & statistics

2,258

Population

People per sq mi

46.5

Median age

$30,899

Median household income

$19,181

Per capita income

$141,600

Median home value

$438

Median monthly rent

61.4%

Home ownership

33.0%

Poverty rate

3.2%

Unemployment

938

Housing units

9.1%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

155

10–14

161

15–19

20–24

25–34

100

116

35–44

122

137

45–54

144

55–59

60–64

145

65–74

152

115

75–84

121

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	605	26.8%
18 and over	1,653	73.2%
65 and over	576	25.5%
Median age	46.5 years

Race & ethnicity

White 94.1%

Two or more races 5.1%

Hispanic or Latino 0.3%

Asian 0.3%

Black or African American 0.2%

Group	Count	%
White	2,132	94.1%
Two or more races	116	5.1%
Hispanic or Latino	7	0.3%
Asian	6	0.3%
Black or African American	4	0.2%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	60.7%	55.3%	43.8%
$50k – $100k	23.7%	25.6%	31.5%
$100k – $200k	15.6%	18.5%	19.5%
Over $200k	0.0%	0.6%	5.2%

Under $10k 8.4%

$10k–$15k 16.3%

$15k–$25k 15.9%

$25k–$35k 16.4%

$35k–$50k 11.3%

$50k–$75k 11.3%

$75k–$100k 12.7%

$100k–$150k 3.8%

$150k–$200k 3.9%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	8.4%
$10k–$15k	16.3%
$15k–$25k	15.9%
$25k–$35k	16.4%
$35k–$50k	11.3%
$50k–$75k	11.3%
$75k–$100k	12.7%
$100k–$150k	3.8%
$150k–$200k	3.9%
Median income	$30,899

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 14.5%

$50k–$100k 19.7%

$100k–$150k 19.5%

$150k–$200k 12.0%

$200k–$300k 25.3%

$300k–$500k 5.6%

$500k–$1M 1.9%

$1M+ 1.7%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$141,600
Median rent / month	$438
Owner occupied	61.4%
Renter occupied	38.6%
Vacant	36.6%
Single-family detached	70.9%
Large apartment buildings	1.4%
Mobile homes	17.1%
Median rooms	4.9
Avg household size (owned)	3.08

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	7.5%
2000–2009	21.6%
1990–1999	12.8%
1980–1989	14.1%
1970–1979	22.6%
1960–1969	16.2%
1950–1959	2.2%
1940–1949	2.5%
1939 or earlier	0.6%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	2.6%
1 bedroom	16.3%
2 bedrooms	28.3%
3 bedrooms	43.2%
4 bedrooms	7.8%
5+ bedrooms	1.7%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	22.4%
1 vehicle	30.9%
2 vehicles	32.4%
3 or more	14.4%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	12.1%
Electricity	45.0%
Propane / LP gas	33.5%
Wood	9.0%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	256	32.5%
Cohabiting couple	56	7.1%
Male householder, no spouse	126	16.0%
Female householder, no spouse	349	44.3%
Households with children under 18	194	24.7%
Households with seniors (65+)	364	46.3%
Average household size	2.82

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	34.9%	15.5%
Married	40.8%	30.0%
Separated	1.7%	10.6%
Widowed	5.6%	28.2%
Divorced	17.0%	15.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 5.3%

Some HS, no diploma 14.9%

HS graduate 56.2%

Some college, no degree 8.1%

Associate's degree 6.3%

Bachelor's degree 8.1%

Graduate / professional 1.0%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	79.8%
Bachelor's or higher	9.1%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	42	7.1%
Kindergarten	11	1.9%
Elementary school	287	48.8%
High school	240	40.8%
College / grad school	8	1.4%

Employment

Industry of employment

Manufacturing 25.8%

Education & healthcare 22.1%

Retail trade 19.0%

Arts, food & hospitality 12.2%

Public administration 4.8%

Construction 3.9%

Transportation & utilities 3.8%

Finance & real estate 3.5%

Agriculture & mining 2.6%

Other services 1.3%

Professional & management 0.9%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	12.1%
Service	18.1%
Sales & office	39.2%
Natural resources & construction	7.8%
Production & transportation	22.8%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	88.2%
Government	9.5%
Self-employed	2.3%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	77.9%
Carpool	15.9%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	2.8%
Work from home	2.0%
Other means	1.5%
Avg commute (minutes)	19.6

Poverty

All people 33.0%

Under 18 years 47.4%

18 and over 27.7%

Married-couple families 5.9%

Female-led households 22.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	68.4%
Retirement income	26.0%
Supplemental Security	14.5%
Cash public assistance	0.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	22.1%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	39.1%
High blood pressure	35.6%
High cholesterol	37.5%
Diabetes	12.4%
Heart disease	8.7%
Stroke	3.9%
Asthma	9.7%
Arthritis	32.0%
Kidney disease	3.4%
Pulmonary disease	10.2%
Cancer	7.8%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	22.3%
Binge drinking	15.9%
No physical activity	28.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	33.4%
Depression	24.0%
Fair or poor health	18.8%
Poor mental health	15.5%
Poor physical health	13.4%
No health insurance	16.2%
Visited doctor (checkup)	74.4%
Visited dentist	58.2%
Cholesterol screening	88.6%
Teeth loss	19.0%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	198	12.0%

Disability	%
Any disability	37.2%
Under 18	29.9%
18–64 years	29.4%
65 and over	60.7%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	52.7%
Public insurance	62.4%
No insurance	7.1%
Uninsured under 19	9.9%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	2,170	96.1%
Spanish	0	0.0%
Other Indo-European	0	0.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	2,252	99.7%
Born in same state	2,247	99.5%
Born in different state	1,726	76.4%
Foreign born	5	0.2%
Naturalized citizen	6	0.3%
Not a US citizen	6	100.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	463	20.5%
Arab	330	14.6%
French	180	8%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	13	0.6%
English	9	0.4%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	34.9%
Internet access	85.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 63965

What city is ZIP code 63965 in?

ZIP code 63965 is primarily assigned to Van Buren, Missouri.

What county is ZIP code 63965 in?

ZIP code 63965 falls within Carter County, Missouri.

Does ZIP code 63965 have a large retiree population?

68% of households in ZIP code 63965 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 63965?

33% of residents in ZIP code 63965 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 63965 have an older population?

26% of residents in ZIP code 63965 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 63965?

9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What timezone is ZIP code 63965 in?

ZIP code 63965 observes the CST timezone.