County profile · Missouri
Ray County, MO market data
How Ray County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 23,398
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 9,116
- Median household income
- $74,573
- +20.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $198,800
- Jobs located here
- 4,281
- Highest market score
- 81
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #82 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ray County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ray County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Ray County has an estimated 23,398 people and 9,116 households. Population estimates show Ray County grew 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Ray County is $74,573, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 20.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ray County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (65).
Of the business types scored in Ray County, medical and dental practices (81), restaurants and cafes (80) and sit-down restaurants (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #82 of 2,394 scored counties.
Ray County is part of the Kansas City metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (71% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (68% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ray County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ray County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 81 | #82 of 2,394 | 25 | 27.4 | $498K | 327 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 80 | #131 of 2,405 | 50 | 54.8 | $680K | 183 | 18 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 79 | #136 of 2,405 | 25 | 27.4 | $1.4M | 205 | 8 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 75 | #224 of 2,222 | 8 | 8.8 | $4.3M | 139 | 10 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 74 | #253 of 2,210 | 6 | 6.6 | $2.9M | 326 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 73 | #170 of 2,088 | 6 | 6.6 | $1.2M | 187 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 68 | #346 of 2,339 | 13 | 14.3 | $669K | 155 | 4 |
| Pizza | 66 | #457 of 2,090 | 7 | 7.7 | $4.9M | 96 | 10 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 64 | #493 of 2,385 | 26 | 28.5 | $334K | 157 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 64 | #626 of 2,402 | 15 | 16.5 | $3.6M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 62 | #645 of 2,401 | 28 | 30.7 | $399K | 148 | 20 |
| Convenience stores | 62 | #682 of 2,261 | 7 | 7.7 | $7.7M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #616 of 1,769 | 7 | 7.7 | $1.2M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 57 | #705 of 2,229 | 12 | 13.2 | Index only | 238 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 55 | #776 of 2,176 | 11 | 12.1 | Index only | 207 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 55 | #945 of 2,378 | 22 | 24.1 | $508K | 114 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 54 | #1,006 of 2,358 | 17 | 18.6 | $1.7M | 70 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 53 | #1,029 of 2,272 | 14 | 15.4 | $1.2M | 98 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 51 | #815 of 1,771 | 7 | 7.7 | $1.5M | 92 | 8 |
| Tire shops | 48 | #823 of 1,530 | 5 | 5.5 | $2.2M | 89 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #1,220 of 2,200 | 14 | 15.4 | $529K | 60 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 47 | #1,178 of 2,057 | 10 | 11.0 | $2.4M | 97 | 15 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #984 of 1,707 | 5 | 5.5 | $4.7M | 99 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 40 | #1,003 of 1,493 | 5 | 5.5 | $2.2M | 74 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 35 | #1,214 of 1,611 | 5 | 5.5 | $688K | 69 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 33 | #1,148 of 1,485 | 5 | 5.5 | $1.5M | 54 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 33 | #1,169 of 1,472 | 7 | 7.7 | $201K | 30 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $3.1M | 130 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $8.5M | 230 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $3.1M | 317 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $13.5M | 145 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $1.9M | 143 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $5.9M | 70 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $3.7M | 121 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $4.2M | 233 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $17M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $5.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $17.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $23.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $10.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $12.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $10.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ray County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.2M | $1,225 | 128 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $28.4M | $3,117 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $34M | $3,731 | 92 |
| Groceries | $53.9M | $5,915 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $8.7M | $953 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.4M | $377 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $7.4M | $817 | 83 |
| Medical and dental services | $12.5M | $1,366 | 106 |
| Pets | $7.4M | $812 | 89 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $17.2M | $1,888 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $17.2M | $1,884 | 96 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $23.5M | $2,583 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10.8M | $1,181 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $123.9M | $13,593 | 82 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Ray County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 23,398+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 9,116
- Median age
- 42.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 569 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 41
- Median household income
- $74,573+20.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $92,338
- Median home value
- $198,800
- Jobs located here
- 4,281
- Daytime population
- 16,549Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ray County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Ray County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Missouri 8
- Lafayette County, MO33,115 people
- Caldwell County, MO8,927 people
- Clay County, MO258,122 people
- Clinton County, MO21,414 people
- Jackson County, MO719,976 people
- Carroll County, MO8,411 people
- Platte County, MO110,371 people
- DeKalb County, MO10,876 people
Questions
How fast is Ray County, MO growing?
Population estimates put Ray County at 23,398 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 9,116 households. Median household income rose 20.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Ray County, MO spend?
Households in Ray County spend about $123.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $53.9M on groceries and $34M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Ray County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (65).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ray County, MO?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ray County are for medical and dental practices (81), restaurants and cafes (80) and sit-down restaurants (79). Ray County ranks #82 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Ray County, MO compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Ray County is $74,573 a year, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $198,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Ray County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (71% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (68% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 27 of the 56 business types have a score in Ray County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Ray County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Missouri · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Ray County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Ray County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.