City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Cobalt, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cobalt - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

318
Residents
$28,542
Median income
$76,700
Median home
$935
Median rent (state)

Cobalt - the verdict

Cobalt ranks in the 2nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
9th
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: Cobalt, MO

Missouri's Cobalt is a small town, with 318 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Cobalt brings in $28,542 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 28.9%. Cobalt's housing stock carries a median value of $76,700, and the median resident age is 37.5 years. 4.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: the state registers 90.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $935 per month. 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 50.9 out of 100 (Low).

Population

318 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$28,542 /yr

Poverty 28.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Cobalt compare to other US cities?

Here's how Cobalt stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 9% 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 Cobalt against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Missouri only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Missouri-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Cobalt's strongest outlier among Missouri cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Cobalt ranks #78 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cobalt only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#815 of 842
3rd percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#438 of 875
49th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#670 of 833
19th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#78 of 875
91st percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#797 of 875
9th percentile in Missouri

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.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cobalt's home value compares nationally

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

$76,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $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. Cobalt $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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cobalt, MO Cobalt, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cobalt, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cobalt, MO median $28,542/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%
Cobalt, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cobalt, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 28.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.6%

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

Population
318
Median Income
$28,542
Median Home Value
$76,700
Median Age
37.5
Poverty Rate
28.9%
Labor force participation
58.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.2%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
261 residents262 residents263 residents264 residents265 residents 202020212022202320242025 262 residents 264 residents ▲ +0.8%
Cobalt's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.0%
Carpool
25.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 143 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cobalt sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$935/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
50.9 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Carytown
319 people
Centertown
317 people
Newburg
319 people
Clarksdale
316 people
Ozora
316 people
Avondale
322 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cobalt's 318 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Chickaloon, AK
318 people
Royal Lakes, IL
318 people
Table Grove, IL
318 people
Clutier, IA
318 people
Ionia, IA
318 people
East Hodge, LA
318 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cobalt's $28,542 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Phelps, KY
$28,542 median income
Corona, NM
$28,542 median income
Brunswick, NC
$28,542 median income
Grayson, KY
$28,548 median income
Palmarejo comunidad (Coamo Municipio), PR
$28,525 median income
Brodhead, KY
$28,523 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cobalt, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cobalt, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.9% 8.5% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 84.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 8.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cobalt compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cobalt (this city) 318 $28,542
Carytown 319 $69,167
Centertown 317 $41,771
Newburg 319 $24,135
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cobalt, MO?

What is the population of Cobalt, MO? +

The population of Cobalt, MO stands at 318 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cobalt, MO? +

Cobalt households earn a median of $28,542 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cobalt? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cobalt; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Cobalt, MO? +

Cobalt's median home value sits at $76,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

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

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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.