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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Ray County

Missouri · 23,158 residents · 568.982 sq mi
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The short version

Ray County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $65,303. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $139,800.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
23,158
−1%since 2000
from 23,354 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.3
+14%since 2000
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K22K23K23K24K1990201020202024Ray County
202423K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.7%(1,329)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(1,416)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.9%(1,604)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.8%(1,566)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(1,188)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(2,535)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.4%(2,634)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.4%(2,877)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.7%(3,635)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.9%(2,527)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.9%(1,370)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.1%(477)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,303
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,886 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,165
+72%since 2000
from $18,685 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
42.1%
+13.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade18.2%
US avg: 10%
Information12.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance7.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical7.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$139,800
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$725
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
77.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
22.9% rent
Afford Score
2.1
−11%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ray County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(22,384)
Black1.5%(340)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(253)
Asian0.2%(43)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(20,893)
Black1%(227)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(580)
Asian0.3%(76)
Other3%(705)
Segregation Score
14
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.5%(340)
Spaniard0.6%(143)
Puerto Rican0.1%(22)
Cuban0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(25)
Thai0%(9)
Chinese0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(6)
Ancestry
German16.9%(3,878)
Irish13.2%(3,028)
American10.3%(2,349)
English8.5%(1,947)
Italian2.2%(497)
French2.1%(488)
Scottish2%(448)
Dutch1.7%(379)
Scotch-Irish1.5%(340)
Polish1.2%(281)
Swedish1%(235)
Welsh0.7%(170)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
British0.6%(130)
Swiss0.4%(96)
Norwegian0.4%(90)
Belgian0.3%(61)
Danish0.2%(52)
Austrian0.2%(42)
Romanian0.1%(31)
Greek0.1%(22)
Canadian0.1%(13)
Russian0%(5)
Turkish0%(2)
Finnish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.7%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.3 min
+11%since 2000
from 26.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.2%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
63.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
24.9%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.7%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 91.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married27.6%(2,630)
Married57.2%(5,446)
Widowed3.7%(353)
Divorced11.5%(1,100)
Women 15+
Never married19.8%(1,842)
Married54.9%(5,110)
Widowed12.2%(1,140)
Divorced13.1%(1,222)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Ray County

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Pop 21,836
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Pop 22,911
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Pop 22,095
Places similar to Ray County
Head to head

Compare Ray County to nearby counties

RAY COUNTY VS
Lafayette County
Income$80,612+23%
Home value$216,500+55%
Population33,531+43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAY COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$88,468+35%
Home value$275,600+97%
Population265,032+1033%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAY COUNTY VS
Caldwell County
Income$64,806−1%
Home value$166,500+19%
Population9,012−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RAY COUNTY VS
Carroll County
Income$62,154−5%
Home value$117,500−16%
Population8,417−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ray County, Missouri?

Ray County, Missouri has about 23,158 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ray County, Missouri?

The typical household in Ray County, Missouri earns about $65,303 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 $139,800, and the typical rent is about $725 a month.

How educated are people in Ray County, Missouri?

About 14.1% 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 11.8% 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 1,187 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 803Census Tract 800.02Census Tract 802.01Census Tract 802.02Census Tract 801Census Tract 800.01
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 64085ZIP 64062ZIP 64077ZIP 64084ZIP 64035ZIP 64036ZIP 64017
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →