CensusEasy
CITY

Rolla

Missouri · 20,588 residents (2025 est.) · 12.129 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Rolla micropolitan area
Compare
Notable rankings
#169Shortest commutesof 6,82613.9#269Youngest by median ageof 6,82628.2
The short version

Rolla has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,204. Population has grown 24% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $187,000. At a median age of 28.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 23.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 35% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,287
+24%since 2000
from 16,367 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,673 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 1,349 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
28.2
+1%since 2000
from 27.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,588 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K15K17K19K21K1990201020202024Rolla
202420K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,204
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,479 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,226
+58%since 2000
from $15,916 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.4%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
−3%since 2010
from 0.472 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services1.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$187,000
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$789
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $402 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
39.4%
−8.3 ptssince 2000
from 47.7% in 2000
60.6% rent
Vacancy rate
13.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.7%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.6%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+42%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rolla on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.3%(14,459)
Black2.9%(470)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(282)
Asian4.9%(797)
Other0%
Diversity Score22.6%(3,693)
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.9%(16,003)
Black4.9%(984)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(936)
Asian7.3%(1,474)
Other4.4%(890)
Diversity Score45.8%(9,283)
Diversity Score
46
+103%since 2000
from 23 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.6%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 27.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.6%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 82.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.9 min
+22%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.0%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.5%
−20.4 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
Female
44.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
Foreign born
7.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−48.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.3%
−77.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+10.6 ptssince 2017
from 79.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 87.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Rolla

Lealman
Pop 20,567
Lady Lake
Pop 17,496
New Port Richey
Pop 18,299
Bayshore Gardens
Pop 18,131
Places similar to Rolla
Head to head

Compare Rolla to nearby cities

ROLLA VS
Fort Leonard Wood
Income$67,772+47%
Home value$65,000−65%
Population15,432−25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROLLA VS
Jefferson City
Income$66,371+44%
Home value$218,700+17%
Population42,489+106%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROLLA VS
Lebanon
Income$48,359+5%
Home value$158,800−15%
Population15,663−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROLLA VS
Union
Income$73,435+59%
Home value$205,200+10%
Population13,445−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rolla, Missouri?

Rolla, Missouri has about 20,287 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rolla, Missouri?

The typical household in Rolla, Missouri earns about $46,204 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rolla, Missouri expensive?

In Rolla, Missouri, the median home is worth about $187,000, and the typical rent is about $789 a month.

How educated are people in Rolla, Missouri?

About 35.6% of adults age 25 and over in Rolla, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rolla, Missouri?

About 23.6% of people in Rolla, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rolla, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Rolla, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,197 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Missouri
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Rolla with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →