Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Missouri has a total population of 6,191,814, making it a mid-sized state in the nation. The median age is 39.0 years, about the same as the national median of 38.9 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in Missouri is 39.0 years. This is about the same as the national median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Missouri is $70,702. This is 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 1% higher than the national poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 23% lower than the national rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $230,300. Housing costs are 31% lower than the national median of $332,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the national average of 65.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Missouri is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 10.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.2%) is well below the national average of 19.3%. The Asian population (2.1%) is well below the national average of 5.9%.

Education

32.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% lower than the national rate of 35.7%. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Missouri come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.