Lafayette County, Missouri Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. 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%.