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.

Rolla, MO Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

20,287

Median Agei

28.2

Race & Ethnicityi

White

78.9%16,003

Asian

7.3%1,474

Black

4.9%984

Hispanic/Latino

4.6%936

Two or More

3.4%688

Other

0.7%137

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%50

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%15

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.6%737

High School Diploma

21.5%2,401

Some College (<1 yr)

7.1%796

Some College (1+ yr)

14.9%1,665

Associate's Degree

5.9%659

Bachelor's Degree

18.1%2,018

Master's Degree

12.2%1,364

Professional Degree

1.9%215

Doctorate

3.4%385

HS or Higher

91.6%

BA or Higher

35.6%

Graduate+

17.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$187,000

Median Renti

$789

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

39.4%3,152

Renter-Occupied

60.6%4,853

Total Units

9,238

Homeownership

39.4%

Vacancy Rate

13.3%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.7%181

$50K–$100K

9.3%292

$100K–$150K

17.7%559

$150K–$200K

20.2%636

$200K–$300K

32.7%1,030

$300K–$500K

11.9%374

$500K–$1M

2.5%80

Rent Distribution

Under $500

546

$500–$750

1,488

$750–$1,000

1,560

$1,000–$1,250

497

$1,250–$1,500

363

$1,500–$2,000

241

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

0.2%14

2010–2019

14.2%1,314

2000–2009

15.5%1,428

1990–1999

13.8%1,273

1980–1989

13.9%1,287

1970–1979

17.6%1,623

1960–1969

11.5%1,062

1950–1959

5.4%500

1940–1949

5%460

1939 or earlier

3%277

Heating Fuel

Electricity

69.5%5,563

Utility Gas

24.6%1,970

Bottled/LP Gas

4.4%354

Wood

0.7%57

No Fuel

0.3%23

Fuel Oil

0.2%19

Solar

0.1%12

Coal

0.1%7

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$46,204

Mean Household Incomei

$61,844

Per Capita Incomei

$25,226

Poverty Ratei

20.4%

Unemploymenti

4.6%

Labor Forcei

8,926

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.7%620

$10K–$15K

6.9%553

$15K–$20K

4.5%364

$20K–$25K

7.2%578

$25K–$30K

11.9%956

$30K–$35K

3.5%283

$35K–$40K

2.4%189

$40K–$45K

4.6%367

$45K–$50K

4.3%347

$50K–$60K

7.2%577

$60K–$75K

11.2%898

$75K–$100K

9.7%776

$100K–$125K

8.4%670

$125K–$150K

2.5%200

$150K–$200K

4.7%376

$200K+

3.1%251

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

518

Residentsi

696

Avg. Tenant Renti

$357/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

34 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing150 homes91% occupied$312/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers172 homes80% occupied$401/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8194 homes94% occupied$353/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $46,204/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $14K/yr

66.3%

Very low income$14K–$23K/yr

28.2%

Low income$23K–$37K/yr

4.9%

Moderate / aboveOver $37K/yr

0.6%

Who Receives This Housing

74.5% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

9.9% of subsidized households are minority

26.7% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

52% 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

1,6117.9%

By Region

Top Countries

China

628

India

Mexico

Philippines

Korea

Germany

Canada

United Kingdom

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

965(5.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

89.7%Insured

10.3%Uninsured