Cole County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cole County is located in Missouri with a total population of 76,924. It is the 16th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cole County is 39.7 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cole County is $73,273. This is 6% higher than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $214,400. Housing costs are about average than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Cole County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cole County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.2%.

Education

37.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cole County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.6%.