Pilot Grove, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 744, Pilot Grove'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

Pilot Grove is a small community located in Missouri, within Cooper County. The total population is 744. It ranks as the 432nd most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pilot Grove is 41.5 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 12.1% 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 Pilot Grove is $73,977. This is 5% higher than the state median of $70,702. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.0%. This is 44% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Pilot Grove, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $133,000. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Pilot Grove is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pilot Grove has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 10.9%.

Education

16.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 91.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pilot Grove, 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.