Ray County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Ray County is located in Missouri with a total population of 23,149. It is the 49th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ray County is 42.2 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ray County is $72,152. This is 5% higher than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $187,400. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Ray County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ray County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.8%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.