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.

Gainesville, MO Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

145,702

Median Agei

26.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

54.2%79,030

Black

20.4%29,712

Hispanic/Latino

13.6%19,759

Asian

6.3%9,252

Two or More

4.6%6,636

Other

0.8%1,180

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%83

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%50

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.9%2,252

High School Diploma

13.4%10,332

Some College (<1 yr)

4.9%3,749

Some College (1+ yr)

9.7%7,498

Associate's Degree

9.7%7,489

Bachelor's Degree

26%20,049

Master's Degree

16.6%12,794

Professional Degree

4.4%3,380

Doctorate

6.7%5,201

HS or Higher

94.3%

BA or Higher

53.7%

Graduate+

27.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$247,500

Median Renti

$1,296

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

37.7%22,575

Renter-Occupied

62.3%37,241

Total Units

66,114

Homeownership

37.7%

Vacancy Rate

9.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

4%895

$50K–$100K

3%677

$100K–$150K

7.3%1,659

$150K–$200K

18.1%4,096

$200K–$300K

32.1%7,252

$300K–$500K

27.8%6,272

$500K–$1M

7%1,581

$1M+

0.6%143

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,133

$500–$750

1,815

$750–$1,000

6,915

$1,000–$1,250

7,374

$1,250–$1,500

5,888

$1,500–$2,000

8,384

$2,000+

5,112

Year Built

2020 or later

1.7%1,121

2010–2019

7.6%5,020

2000–2009

13.7%9,051

1990–1999

14%9,269

1980–1989

19%12,542

1970–1979

21.1%13,952

1960–1969

10.2%6,713

1950–1959

6.7%4,444

1940–1949

2.9%1,924

1939 or earlier

3.1%2,078

Heating Fuel

Electricity

76.9%46,005

Utility Gas

20.3%12,150

No Fuel

1.1%638

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%528

Solar

0.5%304

Wood

0.2%144

Coal

0%25

Fuel Oil

0%15

Other

0%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$46,195

Mean Household Incomei

$70,717

Per Capita Incomei

$30,051

Poverty Ratei

27.3%

Unemploymenti

5.5%

Labor Forcei

74,284

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

12.8%7,632

$10K–$15K

6.3%3,761

$15K–$20K

5.5%3,276

$20K–$25K

4.9%2,918

$25K–$30K

5.8%3,491

$30K–$35K

5%2,979

$35K–$40K

5.2%3,092

$40K–$45K

3.7%2,194

$45K–$50K

4.7%2,824

$50K–$60K

6.3%3,763

$60K–$75K

8.3%4,946

$75K–$100K

10.8%6,485

$100K–$125K

5.8%3,448

$125K–$150K

4.6%2,726

$150K–$200K

4.9%2,929

$200K+

5.6%3,352

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

3,333

Residentsi

5,913

Avg. Tenant Renti

$410/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

51 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing515 homes91% occupied$391/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers1,715 homes67% occupied$476/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8888 homes95% occupied$295/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC18 homes79% occupied$299/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $46,195/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $14K/yr

80.1%

Very low income$14K–$23K/yr

15.9%

Low income$23K–$37K/yr

3.8%

Moderate / aboveOver $37K/yr

0.2%

Who Receives This Housing

73.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

78.3% of subsidized households are minority

27.7% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

34.8% 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

18,01012.4%

By Region

Top Countries

India

1,993

China

1,323

Philippines

1,020

United Kingdom

466

Mexico

412

Canada

345

Korea

321

Germany

216

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

68,536

Avg. Commutei

18.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

70,133

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

5,976(4.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

92.6%Insured

7.4%Uninsured