Oak Ridge, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 298, Oak Ridge'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

Oak Ridge is a small community located in Missouri, within Cape Girardeau County. The total population is 298. It ranks as the 643rd most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Oak Ridge is 45.0 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. With 29.2% of the population under 18, Oak Ridge has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Oak Ridge is $71,458. This is 1% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.7%. This is 63% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $131,300. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Oak Ridge is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 96.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 41% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Oak Ridge was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 99.7% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

18.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 87.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Oak Ridge, 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.