Luray, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 181, Luray'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

Luray is a small community located in Missouri, within Clark County. The total population is 181. It ranks as the 757th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Luray is 9.8 years. This is 75% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 60.8% of the population under 18, Luray has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Luray is $57,321. This is 19% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 33.7%. This is 168% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Luray, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $61,700. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.1x, Luray is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 51.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% lower than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Luray is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (24.9% vs 10.9%).

Education

1.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 95% 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 87.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Luray, 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.