Population 6,242 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lawson
Household size in Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 2.57 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.60 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.65 | 2.59 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.91 | 2.55 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.02 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Lawson is a place of big households: 2.91 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.77, even as the national average fell. Only four of the 191 Missouri cities with 5,000+ people have larger households.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 37.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.2 | 37.9 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 38.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.9 | 39.2 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.2 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lawson is 37.9 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. That is in line with the rest of the Kansas City area. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 11.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 10.9% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lawson: 8.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Lawson
Renters in Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 31.2% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 33.7% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 34.9% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 34.2% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lawson is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (34.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.8 points, mirroring the country.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 9.7% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 9.0% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 7.5% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Lawson as nationally: 8.5%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.3 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1976 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1977 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1977 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1980 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Lawson was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $756 | $897 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $791 | $980 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $821 | $1,095 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $971 | $1,395 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$215 | +$498 | +$383 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lawson costs $971 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $215 a month from 2006–10, a 28% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest 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 Lawson
Bachelor's degrees in Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 33.5% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 34.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.1% | 37.1% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 39.7% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lawson: 21.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 90.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.7% | 90.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.2% | 91.8% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 92.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +2.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lawson is above the national rate: 93.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Kansas City area. The share with a diploma is up 4.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lawson
| Period | Lawson | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 6.8% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 7.6% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.9 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lawson has been strong: just 1.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only 15 of the 191 Missouri cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Lawson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawson | 2.91 | 37.9 | 8.0% | 17.9% | 8.5% | 1982 | $971 | 21.2% | 93.2% | 1.7% |
| Excelsior Estates | 2.70 | 41.8 | 8.3% | 25.1% | 6.7% | 1978 | $923 | 29.9% | 88.8% | 1.3% |
| Vibbard | 2.78 | 43.0 | 2.2% | 10.6% | 7.2% | 1990 | $550 | 30.6% | 93.3% | 2.9% |
| Elmira | 2.93 | 48.6 | 0.8% | 8.8% | 4.3% | 1986 | $1,041 | 13.5% | 95.1% | 0.0% |
| Excelsior Springs | 2.70 | 37.5 | 10.1% | 27.3% | 10.7% | 1971 | $1,043 | 17.8% | 86.3% | 5.3% |
| Crystal Lakes | 2.79 | 43.7 | 9.2% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 1978 | $1,088 | 11.5% | 88.8% | 4.1% |
| Rayville | 2.38 | 46.6 | 1.9% | 4.8% | 11.1% | 1978 | $611 | 20.7% | 88.7% | 4.1% |
| Wood Heights | 2.87 | 41.5 | 9.2% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 1981 | $991 | 15.9% | 94.1% | 6.5% |
| Holt | 2.84 | 44.0 | 6.1% | 10.2% | 13.5% | 1986 | $1,077 | 31.9% | 93.3% | 1.2% |
| Lathrop | 2.62 | 42.5 | 9.3% | 26.4% | 7.1% | 1981 | $827 | 16.3% | 89.9% | 2.1% |
| Polo | 2.35 | 45.5 | 10.4% | 10.8% | 14.8% | 1984 | $779 | 18.0% | 90.1% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Houston, MS · Highland Heights, KY · Hillsboro, NH · Hillsville, VA · Hinton, OK · Hobart, WA · Hodgenville, KY · Hodges, SC · Hogansville, GA · Holbrook, AZ
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 Lawson. 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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