Benton, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 826, Benton's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Benton is a small community located in Missouri, within Scott County. The total population is 826. It ranks as the 412th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benton is 45.9 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 13.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benton is $86,023. This is 22% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 7% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.7%. This is 71% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $254,300. Housing costs are 10% higher than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 76.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Benton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.9%. The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

35.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%. Notably, 18.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Benton, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.