Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Centralia, MO Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

4,690

Median Agei

40.9

Race & Ethnicityi

White

86.6%4,060

Two or More

9.3%436

Hispanic/Latino

3.4%161

Other

0.6%28

Black

0.1%5

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.4%210

High School Diploma

24%783

Some College (<1 yr)

13.9%453

Some College (1+ yr)

5.2%170

Associate's Degree

9%294

Bachelor's Degree

24.7%805

Master's Degree

7.5%244

Professional Degree

1.3%43

Doctorate

0%1

HS or Higher

92.1%

BA or Higher

33.5%

Graduate+

8.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$174,300

Median Renti

$685

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

71.8%1,427

Renter-Occupied

28.2%560

Total Units

2,138

Homeownership

71.8%

Vacancy Rate

7.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.4%20

$50K–$100K

11.3%161

$100K–$150K

14.6%209

$150K–$200K

35.5%507

$200K–$300K

28.2%402

$300K–$500K

6.9%99

$500K–$1M

2%29

Rent Distribution

Under $500

145

$500–$750

170

$750–$1,000

127

$1,000–$1,250

$1,250–$1,500

Year Built

2020 or later

2.3%49

2010–2019

10.1%215

2000–2009

6.4%136

1990–1999

13.4%286

1980–1989

5.7%122

1970–1979

14.1%301

1960–1969

12.9%276

1950–1959

9.5%204

1940–1949

0.9%19

1939 or earlier

24.8%530

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

70.2%1,395

Electricity

27.1%539

Wood

1.7%34

Bottled/LP Gas

1%19

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$66,438

Mean Household Incomei

$70,841

Per Capita Incomei

$29,937

Poverty Ratei

11.6%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

2,223

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.8%75

$10K–$15K

7.4%147

$15K–$20K

4.5%89

$20K–$25K

2.5%49

$25K–$30K

1.9%37

$30K–$35K

5.9%117

$35K–$40K

9.1%180

$40K–$45K

1.3%25

$45K–$50K

3.7%73

$50K–$60K

7.2%143

$60K–$75K

19%378

$75K–$100K

12.5%249

$100K–$125K

5.7%113

$125K–$150K

5.9%117

$150K–$200K

7.5%150

$200K+

2.3%45

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Residentsi

Avg. Tenant Renti

$272/mo

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers12 homes93% occupied$272/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

LIHTC32 homes

Tax-credit funded affordable housing developed by private builders

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $66,438/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

100%

Who Receives This Housing

100% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

0% of subsidized households are minority

25% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

27% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

70.1%

By Region

Top Countries

Germany

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

311(8.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.5%Insured

5.5%Uninsured