United States › Missouri › Ray County COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS
Ray County Missouri · 23,354 residents · 569 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Ray County is a county of 23,354 people in Missouri. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock. The average commute runs 26 minutes. The typical home is worth $85,200, having more than doubled since 1990. The poverty rate is 6.8%, under the national 12.4%.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 37.1
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K 22K 23K 23K 24K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ray County Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $41,886
+17%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $27,124 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $11,213 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 10.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$85,200
+42%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $45,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$455
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $331 in 1990
US average: $602
from 79.0% in 1990
20.5% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 97.9%(21,501)
Hispanic / Latino 0.5%(100)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.8%(22,384)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(253)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 8.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 71.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 2.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 31.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 21.6%(1,924)
Women 15+
Never married 15.4%(1,411)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 8.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 61.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 12.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 30.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17.6%(257)
Gulf War (1990s) 28.4%(415)
Share of the 1,463 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Ray County Head to head
Compare Ray County to nearby counties RAY COUNTY VS
Lafayette County
Income $80,612 +92%
Home value $216,500 +154%
Population 33,531 +43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAY COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $88,468 +111%
Home value $275,600 +223%
Population 265,032 +1033%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAY COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income $64,806 +55%
Home value $166,500 +95%
Population 9,012 −61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAY COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income $62,154 +48%
Home value $117,500 +38%
Population 8,417 −64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Ray County, Missouri? Ray County, Missouri has about 23,354 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Ray County, Missouri? The typical household in Ray County, Missouri earns about $41,886 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Ray County, Missouri expensive? In Ray County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $85,200, and the typical rent is about $455 a month.
How educated are people in Ray County, Missouri? About 10.8% of adults age 25 and over in Ray County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ray County, Missouri? About 6.8% of people in Ray County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ray County, Missouri grown since 1990? Yes, Ray County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,383 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.
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