Cole County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Cole County, Missouri has a population of 77,032, the 16th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $74,876 and the median home value is $229,600. The poverty rate is 9.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Cole County Quick Facts
How Cole County 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 | 76,924 | 77,032 | +0.1% |
| Median household income | $73,273 | $74,876 | +2.2% |
| Median home value | $214,400 | $229,600 | +7.1% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Cole County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | 42,488 | $66,371 | 12.0% | $218,700 |
| Wardsville | 1,579 | $121,222 | 2.5% | $329,500 |
| Taos | 1,242 | $98,854 | 2.5% | $270,500 |
| St. Martins | 1,228 | $89,250 | 5.0% | $242,400 |
| Russellville | 833 | $56,750 | 5.3% | $166,500 |
| Centertown | 297 | $46,875 | 10.4% | $143,400 |
| Lohman | 243 | $89,167 | 11.9% | $218,800 |
| St. Thomas | 228 | $89,688 | 3.1% | $212,000 |
| Eugene | 158 | $58,846 | 17.7% | N/A |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Cole County is located in Missouri with a total population of 77,032. It is the 16th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cole County is 39.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cole County is $74,876. This is 6% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 7% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $229,600. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Cole County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.7%.
Education
38.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cole County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 20% 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 94.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Cole County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Missouri and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cole County, Missouri?
Cole County has a population of 77,032, making it the 16th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Cole County?
The median household income in Cole County is $74,876 with a poverty rate of 9.0%.
How many cities are in Cole County, Missouri?
Cole County contains 9 Census-designated places.