Ray County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Ray County, Missouri has a population of 23,145, the 49th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $74,573 and the median home value is $198,800. The poverty rate is 12.6%.
Ray County Quick Facts
How Ray County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,149 | 23,145 | -0.0% |
| Median household income | $72,152 | $74,573 | +3.4% |
| Median home value | $187,400 | $198,800 | +6.1% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 92.2%
- Black: 0.8%
- Hispanic: 2.9%
- Asian: 0.3%
- Other: 0.5%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < HS: 10.3%
- HS Diploma: 42.1%
- Some College: 23.1%
- Associate's: 8.3%
- Bachelor's: 11.3%
- Graduate+: 4.9%
Cities & Places in Ray County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 5,959 | $59,556 | 16.3% | $142,600 |
| Wood Heights | 784 | $89,688 | 6.4% | $212,800 |
| Orrick | 727 | $73,000 | 7.1% | $139,600 |
| Hardin | 681 | $78,320 | 10.1% | $106,300 |
| Crystal Lakes | 436 | $69,107 | 23.4% | $152,300 |
| Henrietta | 390 | $60,417 | 24.2% | $51,400 |
| Vibbard | 244 | $94,250 | 16.0% | $289,300 |
| Homestead | 146 | $66,250 | 5.5% | $131,300 |
| Camden | 135 | $50,000 | 13.3% | $58,800 |
| Rayville | 84 | $2,499 | 69.0% | N/A |
| Fleming | 68 | $53,750 | 10.3% | $129,200 |
| Elmira | 17 | $31,250 | 17.6% | $162,500 |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Ray County is located in Missouri with a total population of 23,145. It is the 49th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ray County is 41.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ray County is $74,573. 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 12.6%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $198,800. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Ray County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Ray County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 89.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Ray County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Missouri and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ray County, Missouri?
Ray County has a population of 23,145, making it the 49th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Ray County?
The median household income in Ray County is $74,573 with a poverty rate of 12.6%.
How many cities are in Ray County, Missouri?
Ray County contains 12 Census-designated places.