Center, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Center, Missouri had a total population of 537, the 499th largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $59,375, which is 16% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 9.3% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
Center Quick Facts
How Center Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 469 | 537 | +14.5% |
| Median household income | $62,750 | $59,375 | -5.4% |
| Median home value | $82,600 | $82,400 | -0.2% |
How Center Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Center Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Ralls County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New London | 1,130 | $63,021 | 20.1% | $134,100 |
| Perry | 640 | $50,795 | 17.5% | $112,100 |
| Rensselaer | 243 | $77,750 | 7.8% | $190,600 |
| Saverton | 60 | N/A | 0.0% | $218,300 |
Cities Similar to Center
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ewing | 542 | $57,083 | $104,200 | 9.4% | 3.9% |
| Smithton | 535 | $55,288 | $116,400 | 12.8% | 5.3% |
| Walnut Grove | 528 | $55,500 | $139,000 | 9.5% | 9.7% |
| Ravenwood | 563 | $60,250 | $69,300 | 13.4% | 8.2% |
| Union Star | 559 | $61,299 | $105,700 | 16.1% | 4.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 537, Center'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
Center is a small community located in Missouri, within Ralls County. The total population is 537. It ranks as the 499th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Center is 42.6 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Center is $59,375. This is 16% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $82,400. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Center is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Center has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
9.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 71% lower 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 86.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Center, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Center, Missouri?
Center, Missouri has a population of 537 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Center, MO?
The median household income in Center is $59,375, which is 26% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Center, MO?
The poverty rate in Center is 14.1%. This means approximately 67 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Center, Missouri?
Center's population is 93.3% White, 1.5% Black, 3.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Center, MO?
The median home value in Center is $82,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Center, Missouri?
9.3% of adults (25+) in Center hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.