Lawrence County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lawrence County is located in Missouri with a total population of 38,392. It is the 30th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lawrence County is 39.0 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lawrence County is $55,849. This is 19% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.5%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $159,800. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Lawrence County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lawrence County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (8.2% vs 5.1%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

16.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% 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 85.5%.