The Town Files

Ray County, Missouri

23,145 people. The median home is worth $198,800 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $74,573.

Towns in Ray County

Towns in Ray County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Richmond6,013$142,600$59,55640.1
Lawson2,541$186,000$65,94132.8

People and housing

Ray CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$198,800$153,900
Median rent$782$855
Median household income$74,573$56,368
Median age41.938.6
Bachelor's degree or higher16.2%18.9%
Below the poverty line12.6%14.6%

Jobs and pay

4,007 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,361 a year.

Largest industries in Ray CountyRetail592 jobs · $30,236Manufacturing462 jobs · $75,061Hotels & restaurants364 jobs · $18,351Other services186 jobs · $39,973Construction170 jobs · $55,305Finance & insurance114 jobs · $80,904
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Ray County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 337 storm events in Ray County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Ray County by type since 1996Hail85Heat13Flood37Drought21Tornado13Blizzard2Ice Storm8Heavy Snow8Flash Flood21Winter Storm22
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Ray County has been included in 33 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
September 1, 2021Severe StormDR-4612: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3482: Covid-19
July 9, 2019Severe StormDR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
May 20, 2019FloodDR-4435: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
August 7, 2015Severe StormDR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).