Lafayette County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Lafayette County, Missouri has a population of 32,974, the 35th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $79,091 and the median home value is $200,300. The poverty rate is 9.7%.
Lafayette County Quick Facts
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: 39 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Lafayette County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | 5,589 | $85,592 | 5.1% | $209,600 |
| Higginsville | 4,775 | $76,409 | 6.6% | $163,700 |
| Lexington | 4,602 | $70,134 | 14.3% | $153,300 |
| Concordia | 2,184 | $56,192 | 18.6% | $159,300 |
| Waverly | 854 | $48,000 | 8.6% | $107,500 |
| Corder | 561 | $83,375 | 10.0% | $80,800 |
| Wellington | 553 | $67,404 | 13.3% | $142,000 |
| Alma | 466 | $72,656 | 10.5% | $134,900 |
| Mayview | 357 | $87,188 | 24.1% | $105,600 |
| Emma | 261 | $78,750 | 5.0% | $119,300 |
| Lake Lafayette | 227 | $34,375 | 39.6% | $76,600 |
| Napoleon | 214 | $91,875 | 1.4% | $179,700 |
| Bates City | 183 | $83,333 | 3.3% | $212,500 |
| Blackburn | 175 | $56,250 | 17.7% | $103,800 |
| Aullville | 132 | $97,500 | 8.3% | $193,800 |
| Dover | 123 | $53,125 | 4.9% | $183,300 |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Lafayette County is located in Missouri with a total population of 32,974. It is the 35th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 16 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lafayette County is 40.9 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lafayette County is $79,091. This is 15% higher than the state median of $68,920. It is also about the same as the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $200,300. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Lafayette County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Lafayette County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
24.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% lower 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 90.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Lafayette County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 Lafayette County, Missouri?
Lafayette County has a population of 32,974, making it the 35th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Lafayette County?
The median household income in Lafayette County is $79,091 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.
How many cities are in Lafayette County, Missouri?
Lafayette County contains 16 Census-designated places.