Counties in Missouri where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties in Missouri where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Missouri where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

You may also like: Counties with the most super commuters in Missouri

#50. Clinton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.4%
- Total occupied households: 8,177
- Median household income: $62,701
- Median monthly housing cost: $917

#49. Barry County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 13,645
- Median household income: $44,403
- Median monthly housing cost: $650

#48. Madison County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 5,044
- Median household income: $43,636
- Median monthly housing cost: $640

#47. Saline County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 8,272
- Median household income: $44,720
- Median monthly housing cost: $656

#46. Vernon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 8,207
- Median household income: $43,276
- Median monthly housing cost: $635

You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 60s in Missouri

#45. Scott County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 15,230
- Median household income: $44,139
- Median monthly housing cost: $648

#44. Stoddard County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 11,530
- Median household income: $41,062
- Median monthly housing cost: $603

#43. Nodaway County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 8,395
- Median household income: $44,232
- Median monthly housing cost: $651

#42. Bates County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.6%
- Total occupied households: 6,547
- Median household income: $47,625
- Median monthly housing cost: $701

#41. Franklin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 40,943
- Median household income: $57,214
- Median monthly housing cost: $843

You may also like: Do you know Missouri's official state symbols?

#40. Christian County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 31,645
- Median household income: $60,645
- Median monthly housing cost: $895

#39. Camden County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 16,031
- Median household income: $53,478
- Median monthly housing cost: $790

#38. Lincoln County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 19,286
- Median household income: $64,196
- Median monthly housing cost: $952

#37. Pettis County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 16,033
- Median household income: $46,157
- Median monthly housing cost: $686

#36. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.9%
- Total occupied households: 84,444
- Median household income: $65,454
- Median monthly housing cost: $973

You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Missouri

#35. St. Clair County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.4%
- Total occupied households: 4,139
- Median household income: $38,870
- Median monthly housing cost: $578

#34. St. Francois County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 24,898
- Median household income: $46,466
- Median monthly housing cost: $694

#33. Platte County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 39,305
- Median household income: $80,393
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,204

#32. Morgan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 7,588
- Median household income: $39,003
- Median monthly housing cost: $585

#31. Buchanan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.0%
- Total occupied households: 33,501
- Median household income: $51,916
- Median monthly housing cost: $783

You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Missouri

#30. New Madrid County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 7,371
- Median household income: $38,679
- Median monthly housing cost: $585

#29. Lawrence County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 14,787
- Median household income: $44,742
- Median monthly housing cost: $679

#28. Polk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.2%
- Total occupied households: 11,712
- Median household income: $45,660
- Median monthly housing cost: $694

#27. Carter County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 2,333
- Median household income: $39,530
- Median monthly housing cost: $601

#26. Dunklin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 12,342
- Median household income: $36,380
- Median monthly housing cost: $556

You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 70s in Missouri

#25. Wright County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 7,063
- Median household income: $34,776
- Median monthly housing cost: $534

#24. Johnson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.2%
- Total occupied households: 19,864
- Median household income: $55,273
- Median monthly housing cost: $851

#23. Clay County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 91,238
- Median household income: $70,510
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,088

#22. Cass County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.4%
- Total occupied households: 39,770
- Median household income: $69,433
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,073

#21. McDonald County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.0%
- Total occupied households: 8,259
- Median household income: $41,643
- Median monthly housing cost: $644

You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 80s in Missouri

#20. Adair County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.1%
- Total occupied households: 9,258
- Median household income: $41,929
- Median monthly housing cost: $651

#19. Cape Girardeau County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.1%
- Total occupied households: 29,594
- Median household income: $53,732
- Median monthly housing cost: $842

#18. Warren County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 12,654
- Median household income: $60,125
- Median monthly housing cost: $944

#17. Texas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.5%
- Total occupied households: 9,728
- Median household income: $35,067
- Median monthly housing cost: $552

#16. Cedar County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 5,842
- Median household income: $39,365
- Median monthly housing cost: $620

You may also like: Fastest-growing counties in Missouri

#15. Crawford County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.9%
- Total occupied households: 9,578
- Median household income: $44,438
- Median monthly housing cost: $702

#14. Butler County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.7%
- Total occupied households: 16,390
- Median household income: $39,915
- Median monthly housing cost: $636

#13. Jasper County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 45,759
- Median household income: $48,357
- Median monthly housing cost: $772

#12. Howell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.0%
- Total occupied households: 15,878
- Median household income: $38,357
- Median monthly housing cost: $613

#11. St. Louis County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.2%
- Total occupied households: 405,984
- Median household income: $67,420
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,087

You may also like: Counties with the worst commutes in Missouri

#10. Ozark County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 3,958
- Median household income: $31,947
- Median monthly housing cost: $519

#9. Phelps County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
- Total occupied households: 17,981
- Median household income: $44,154
- Median monthly housing cost: $720

#8. Taney County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 22,272
- Median household income: $46,031
- Median monthly housing cost: $777

#7. Boone County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.8%
- Total occupied households: 70,619
- Median household income: $55,328
- Median monthly housing cost: $941

#6. Greene County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.5%
- Total occupied households: 125,201
- Median household income: $46,086
- Median monthly housing cost: $793

You may also like: Highest-rated specialty museums in Missouri, according to Tripadvisor

#5. Mississippi County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.1%
- Total occupied households: 5,026
- Median household income: $35,357
- Median monthly housing cost: $609

#4. Jackson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.0%
- Total occupied households: 286,601
- Median household income: $55,134
- Median monthly housing cost: $961

#3. Pulaski County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.7%
- Total occupied households: 15,154
- Median household income: $53,492
- Median monthly housing cost: $959

#2. Pemiscot County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.3%
- Total occupied households: 6,730
- Median household income: $33,859
- Median monthly housing cost: $611

#1. St. Louis city

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 36.1%
- Total occupied households: 141,952
- Median household income: $43,896
- Median monthly housing cost: $874

You may also like: Where people in Missouri are moving to most

Trending Now