City · Missouri
Ava, Missouri
Ava, city, in Douglas County, Missouri. Ava had 3,231 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,894 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,045 (±16). GEOID 2902674.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,231
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,894 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,045 ±16
Median household income
$42,500
±$11,889 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$148,000
±$14,338 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$696
±$106 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Ava and what county is it in?
Ava is a city in Douglas County, Missouri. It covers 3.3 square miles of land, 871 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ava, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,231 people lived in Ava on July 1, 2025, up 11.5% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 2,894 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,045 (±16).
| Measure | Ava | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,045 ±16 | 11,965 | +156 |
| Households | 1,116 ±130 | 4,654 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.62 ±0.30 | 2.54 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,227 ±144 | 5,391 | no clear change |
Ava's population since 2000
From 3,021 in 2000 to 3,231 in 2025: up 7.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ava as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ava?
The median resident of Ava is 34.9 years old; 27.0% are under 18 and 20.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 1.7%.
| Measure | Ava | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 ±6.1 | 45.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.0% ±4.0 pts | 23.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.4% ±3.6 pts | 24.9% | – |
| Male | 49.9% ±4.0 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.5% ±1.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.8% ±2.9 pts | 92.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±2.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.8% ±1.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.2% ±4.0 pts | 11.8% | – |
| With a disability | 20.8% ±5.4 pts | 19.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.6% ±6.0 pts | 11.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.8% ±6.9 pts | 86.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.1% ±4.3 pts | 14.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.6% ±1.7 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.2% ±5.1 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0% ±3.7 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ava earn?
Half of Ava's 1,116 households earn less than $42,500 a year (±$11,889), against $45,985 in Douglas County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $38,518 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 21.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ava | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,500 ±$11,889 | $45,985 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,495 ±$39,686 | $73,551 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,349 ±$14,540 | $28,761 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 21.7% ±8.5 pts | 17.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.2% ±14.8 pts | 20.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.1% ±8.0 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.6% ±5.6 pts | 91.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.4% ±6.9 pts | 81.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ava?
Owners occupy 54.7% of Ava's occupied homes and renters 45.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $148,000 by its owner (±$14,338). The median renter pays $696 a month including utilities, and 20.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ava | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $148,000 ±$14,338 | $168,200 | +$41,422 |
| Median gross rent | $696 ±$106 | $700 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 20.8% ±13.6 pts | 29.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,073 ±$87 | $1,169 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.7% ±8.8 pts | 80.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.3% ±8.8 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Housing units | 1,227 ±144 | 5,391 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±6.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.5% ±7.8 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.9% ±4.7 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.0% ±5.8 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.8% ±5.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Ava building?
Builders took permits for 24 new housing units in Ava in 2025 (8 in single-family houses), 7.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ava work and get to work?
83.5% of Ava's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 19.0 minutes.
| Measure | Ava | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 50.0% ±7.2 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% ±5.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.5% ±8.4 pts | 76.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.7% ±4.7 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.0% ±6.2 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.0 min ±4.1 | 27.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Ava?
1 census tract lies mostly in Ava (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9505Douglas County | 4,085 | $41,425 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ava) · Census block assignment files
How does Ava compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ava is the 6,101st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 178th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Ava ranks 362nd of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 178th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 25th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 268th | 420 |
| Median household income | 362nd | 416 |
| Per capita income | 196th | 420 |
| Median home value | 240th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 314th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 87th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 349th | 404 |
| Median age | 317th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 341st | 418 |
| Travel time to work | 318th | 420 |
Ava's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Ava with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Ava?
21 of the 57 figures for Ava on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ava are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Ava.