La Belle, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 775, La Belle'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

La Belle is a small community located in Missouri, within Lewis County. The total population is 775. It ranks as the 426th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in La Belle is 27.9 years. This is 28% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 28.1% of the population under 18, La Belle has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in La Belle is $36,688. This is 48% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 42.2%. This is 236% 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 0.7%. This is 84% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $79,400. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, La Belle is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

La Belle has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.2%.

Education

6.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 79% 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 78.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for La Belle, 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.