Chain-O-Lakes, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 119, Chain-O-Lakes'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

Chain-O-Lakes is a small community located in Missouri, within Barry County. The total population is 119. It ranks as the 838th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chain-O-Lakes is 56.5 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 20.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chain-O-Lakes is $29,000. This is 59% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 53.8%. This is 328% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 60% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $184,700. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 93.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Chain-O-Lakes has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%.

Education

7.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 91.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chain-O-Lakes, 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.