Population 77,032 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cole County
Household size in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Cole County run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast. Cole County has smaller households than at least four in five Missouri counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.4 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.8 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.3 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.3, the median age in Cole County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 38.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Cole County than nationally: 10.4%, against 11.6%. Missouri as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cole County
Renters in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.1% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Cole County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Cole County than nationally: 7.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of Missouri's 115 counties, only ten have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Cole County was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $602 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $628 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $713 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $893 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$291 | +$383 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cole County costs $893 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $291 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.3% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cole County
Bachelor's degrees in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.2% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.0% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.3% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Cole County than nationally: 39.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only six of Missouri's 115 counties have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Cole County: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Missouri counties have a higher share of high school graduates: only eight of 115.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cole County
| Period | Cole County | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Cole County has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cole County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole County | 2.41 | 40.3 | 10.4% | 32.1% | 7.9% | 1982 | $893 | 39.3% | 94.6% | 3.1% |
| Osage County | 2.54 | 40.9 | 6.5% | 20.6% | 20.9% | 1982 | $700 | 24.8% | 90.9% | 1.9% |
| Moniteau County | 2.48 | 39.3 | 9.7% | 20.8% | 8.4% | 1978 | $714 | 16.3% | 84.0% | 2.3% |
| Gasconade County | 2.42 | 46.0 | 10.1% | 19.1% | 18.7% | 1976 | $797 | 17.3% | 90.4% | 3.1% |
| Franklin County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 10.7% | 23.5% | 8.0% | 1983 | $947 | 23.7% | 90.5% | 4.3% |
| St. Louis County | 2.44 | 41.3 | 11.4% | 30.8% | 8.0% | 1969 | $1,388 | 47.6% | 94.5% | 4.4% |
| St. Louis City | 2.02 | 38.2 | 13.3% | 54.7% | 16.3% | 1946 | $1,044 | 41.0% | 90.7% | 5.9% |
| St. Clair County | 2.57 | 40.2 | 13.5% | 31.6% | 11.5% | 1978 | $1,199 | 33.0% | 93.4% | 5.6% |
| Miami County | 2.55 | 42.2 | 10.5% | 21.8% | 5.9% | 1983 | $1,183 | 31.8% | 94.5% | 3.7% |
| Clinton County | 2.42 | 42.1 | 7.3% | 19.7% | 8.3% | 1978 | $931 | 26.7% | 92.9% | 3.6% |
| Franklin County | 2.52 | 39.8 | 11.5% | 27.8% | 8.4% | 1973 | $1,008 | 24.7% | 92.3% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Sullivan County, NY · Chatham County, NC · Van Buren County, MI · Valencia County, NM · Cheshire County, NH · Umatilla County, OR · Clallam County, WA · Clearfield County, PA · Clinton County, NY · Talladega County, AL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cole County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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