Waco, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waco, Missouri had a total population of 154, the 792nd largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $59,250, which is 16% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 6.2% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x.
- Unemployment rate of 25.0% is notably above the national average.
Waco Quick Facts
How Waco 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 | 190 | 154 | -18.9% |
| Median household income | $56,875 | $59,250 | +4.2% |
| Median home value | $115,600 | $116,500 | +0.8% |
How Waco Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
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+)
Waco Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Jasper County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | 52,593 | $52,097 | 16.9% | $168,300 |
| Carthage | 15,574 | $51,328 | 27.2% | $146,800 |
| Webb City | 13,221 | $65,469 | 20.5% | $169,100 |
| Carl Junction | 8,339 | $82,879 | 8.4% | $218,300 |
| Oronogo | 2,804 | $91,563 | 5.0% | $188,500 |
| Duquesne | 2,257 | $54,135 | 14.2% | $184,200 |
| Carterville | 2,074 | $58,849 | 18.3% | $97,600 |
| Duenweg | 1,918 | $63,375 | 20.9% | $128,900 |
| Sarcoxie | 1,574 | $41,705 | 25.4% | $94,100 |
| Airport Drive | 941 | $69,063 | 10.8% | $251,100 |
Cities Similar to Waco
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oaks | 156 | N/A | $338,900 | 44.9% | 1.3% |
| Ludlow | 153 | $57,500 | $90,000 | 5.0% | 21.6% |
| East Lynne | 155 | $56,875 | $176,000 | 10.1% | 0.0% |
| Eugene | 158 | $58,846 | N/A | 15.7% | 17.7% |
| Burfordville | 147 | N/A | N/A | 17.1% | 8.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 154, Waco'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
Waco is a small community located in Missouri, within Jasper County. The total population is 154. It ranks as the 792nd most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waco is 47.0 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Waco is $59,250. This is 16% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.3%. This is 101% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 25.0%. This is 522% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $116,500. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Waco is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Waco was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
6.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 81% 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 68.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waco, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Waco, Missouri?
Waco, Missouri has a population of 154 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waco, MO?
The median household income in Waco is $59,250, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waco, MO?
The poverty rate in Waco is 25.3%. This means approximately 39 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Waco, Missouri?
Waco's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waco, MO?
The median home value in Waco is $116,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.0x.
How educated is Waco, Missouri?
6.2% of adults (25+) in Waco hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.