Ray County, MO Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Ray County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,065 | 6,177,646 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 40.2 | 88.7 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.12% | 0.26% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.4 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 9,046 | 2,484,450 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Ray County declined by 1.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 23,148 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Ray County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Ray County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,263 | $69,051 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.46% | 4.84% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.1% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Ray County is about 6% higher than in Missouri.
Housing
| Metric | Ray County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $23,858 | $136,017 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $808 | $995 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.5% | 67.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Ray County is about 2.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $808 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Ray County spend about 61 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 253 hours, about 10.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Ray County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 30.4 | 21.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 60.8 | 42.1 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 253 | 175 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $7,857 | $5,435 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,042 | 7,545 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 821 | 923 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Missouri:
Saline County (11.5 min), Nodaway County (11.9 min), Adair County (12.1 min).
Slowest:
Bollinger County (33.1 min), Dallas County (31.6 min), Caldwell County (31.0 min).
The average commute time in Ray County is 30 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Missouri.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Ray County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Ray County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.53 | 2.42 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Missouri:
St. Louis County (0.4), Platte County (0.4), Boone County (0.4).
Lowest:
Bollinger County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Ripley County (0.2).
Health
Ray County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Ray County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.2 | 76.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.7% | 19.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 22.9% | 22.8% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Missouri:
St. Charles County (0.8), Platte County (0.8), Boone County (0.8).
Lowest:
Scotland County (0.7), Ripley County (0.7), Pemiscot County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ray County, Missouri.
What is the population of Ray County, Missouri?
The population of Ray County, Missouri is 23,065, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Ray County, Missouri?
The population density of Ray County, Missouri is 40.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Ray County, Missouri?
The median household income in Ray County, Missouri is $73,263, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Ray County, Missouri?
The median home price in Ray County, Missouri is $23,858, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Ray County, Missouri?
The unemployment rate in Ray County, Missouri is 2.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.