City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Chain of Rocks, MO

Chain of Rocks's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

279
Residents
$145,887
Median income
$336,000
Median home
$972
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Chain of Rocks, MO - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Chain of Rocks.

Place dossier plate

Sheet MO-CHAIN-OF-ROCKS-MO · Chain of Rocks, MO 279 pop · income 93rd pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-TOP · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-TOP · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 279
  • INC-TOP $145,887
  • COL-BELOW 90.8
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-TOP 93rd
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ East Massapequa
  • HOME-MID $336,000
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: East Massapequa, NY ( $12 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Chain of Rocks

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Chain of Rocks on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Chain of Rocks on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 279.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $145,887. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Chain of Rocks - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Chain of Rocks lands in the 93rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

93rd
percentile, household income
70th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Chain of Rocks, MO

279 people live in Chain of Rocks, Missouri - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Chain of Rocks brings in $145,887 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Chain of Rocks's housing stock carries a median value of $336,000, and the median resident age is 29.2 years. 49.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 79.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Missouri scores 90.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $972 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Missouri run around $219, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 50.6 out of 100 (Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Chain of Rocks's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to population change to work and mobility to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Chain of Rocks, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, annual population history. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, FBI reported-crime rates, within-city Census tract profiles, local building permits; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Chain of Rocks?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.

The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 2.3 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 0.0%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 2

Is Chain of Rocks growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +8 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +8.3% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

Question 3

What does the journey to work look like in Chain of Rocks?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 60.0%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

4. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Chain of Rocks?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Missouri, the closest population matches are Gasconade (279 residents, $42,143 income); Chilhowee (280 residents, $54,000 income); Macks Creek (280 residents, $35,000 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Sacate, AZ (279 residents); Arriba, CO (279 residents); Blairsville, IL (279 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Population

279 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$145,887 /yr

Top-decile income · poverty 0.0% (Very low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

City profile score · Chain of Rocks, MO

91/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Poverty rate A+
0.0%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income A+
$145,887

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Bachelor's+ share A-
49.7%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Cost of living A-
90.8 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Chain of Rocks profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Household income, Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living. Poverty rateHousehold incomeBachelor's+ shareCost of living 91 A+
Chain of Rocks profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 100/100 (A+) · 0.0%
  • Household income: 95/100 (A+) · $145,887
  • Bachelor's+ share: 84/100 (A-) · 49.7%
  • Cost of living: 83/100 (A-) · 90.8 index

How does Chain of Rocks compare to other US cities?

Where Chain of Rocks sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 93% higher than other cities
Home value 70% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Chain of Rocks against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Missouri only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Missouri-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Chain of Rocks near the bottom of Missouri's cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Chain of Rocks ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Chain of Rocks only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#20 of 842
98th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 875
0th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#51 of 833
94th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#795 of 875
0th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#54 of 875
94th percentile in Missouri
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Missouri only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

93rdIncome percentile
Gauge source note

93rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Chain of Rocks's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$336,000 30th percentile more affordable than 30% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Chain of Rocks $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Chain of Rocks's home-value-to-income ratio: 2.3×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#2,966 of 15,516
More affordable than 81% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#2,739 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 2.3×, Chain of Rocks sits in the affordable band: national rank #2,966 of 15,516 and #2,739 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$145,887 Chain of Rocks, MO median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Chain of Rocks, MO Chain of Rocks, MO's median household income ($145,887) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Chain of Rocks, MO-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Chain of Rocks, MO median $145,887/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Chain of Rocks, MO median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Chain of Rocks, MO.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 79.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
279
Median Income
$145,887
Median Home Value
$336,000
Median Age
29.2
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
79.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.7%

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
95 residents100 residents105 residents 202020212022202320242025 96 residents 104 residents ▲ +8.3%
Chain of Rocks's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 96 residents
2021 98 residents
2022 100 residents
2023 101 residents
2024 103 residents
2025 104 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
60.0%
Carpool
8.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
30.4%
Work from Home
0.7%

Based on 135 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Missouri statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $219

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Missouri at $219 (electricity about $105 , water and sewer about $42 ).

These are Missouri statewide averages, not a meter reading for Chain of Rocks. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Missouri's BEA cost-of-living index is 90.8 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Chain of Rocks is $972/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Missouri statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 50.6 / 100 (Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Missouri statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Chain of Rocks sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Chain of Rocks compares to similar-size Missouri cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Chain of Rocks (this city) 279 $145,887
Gasconade 279 $42,143
Chilhowee 280 $54,000
Macks Creek 280 $35,000
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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