Polo, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 480, Polo'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

Polo is a small community located in Missouri, within Caldwell County. The total population is 480. It ranks as the 529th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Polo is 32.0 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 29.6% of the population under 18, Polo has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Polo is $53,523. This is 24% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.1%. This is 4% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $154,700. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Polo is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Polo has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.2%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 90.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Polo, 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.