Clarence, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 862, Clarence'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

Clarence is a small community located in Missouri, within Shelby County. The total population is 862. It ranks as the 400th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clarence is 51.1 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 12.2% 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 Clarence is $31,734. This is 55% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 61% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.6%. This is 112% 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 6.8%. This is 70% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $74,100. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Clarence is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clarence has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.1%. The Black or African American population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

8.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 73% 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 85.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clarence, 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.