1st Advantage MortgageIn Audrain County, Missouri, the typical household earns $59,448 a year and the typical rent is $693. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Missouri before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Audrain County
- What Audrain County households earn
- How Audrain County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Audrain County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Audrain County
- Budget math at the Audrain County median
- Reading the Audrain County data as a borrower
- Audrain County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Audrain County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Audrain County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Audrain County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Audrain County's population at 24,548; only 43 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 692 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 35 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Audrain County is not part of any metropolitan area. Mexico is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 11,477 people (47% of the county total).
What Audrain County households earn
At $59,448, the typical Audrain County household income is 9% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Audrain County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.6% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -5.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Audrain County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.8%, 5 points higher than the state's 12.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.418 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Audrain County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Audrain County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Audrain County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.5% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -4.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Audrain County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Audrain County
Renters in Audrain County pay a median of $693 a month, 33% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 48% of Audrain County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $143,100, a typical Audrain County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Audrain County households own their home and 28% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Home costs | Audrain County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $693/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $143,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 22% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Monroe County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Pike County, is 37 miles off. Callaway County leads the group on income ($74,176), Monroe County trails ($54,516), and Audrain County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audrain County | - | $59,448 | $693/mo | 72% |
| Monroe County, MO | 21 mi | $54,516 | $689/mo | 74% |
| Callaway County, MO | 27 mi | $74,176 | $887/mo | 76% |
| Montgomery County, MO | 28 mi | $65,500 | $788/mo | 73% |
| Ralls County, MO | 29 mi | $65,388 | $749/mo | 86% |
| Boone County, MO | 29 mi | $72,758 | $1,088/mo | 58% |
| Pike County, MO | 37 mi | $54,989 | $778/mo | 73% |
Towns and communities in Audrain County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Audrain County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 17,780 people, so roughly 28% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $66,438 at the median in Centralia, $34,503 in Martinsburg. Live in one of these Audrain County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | city | 11,477 | $50,873 | $686 | 4 mi |
| Centralia | city | 4,690 | $66,438 | $685 | 16 mi |
| Laddonia | city | 533 | $53,309 | $665 | 11 mi |
| Martinsburg | town | 522 | $34,503 | $398 | 13 mi |
| Farber | city | 272 | $46,458 | $350 | 15 mi |
| Vandiver | village | 127 | $56,719 | $1,125 | 4 mi |
| Benton City | village | 88 | $57,500 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Rush Hill | village | 71 | $66,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
Budget math at the Audrain County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Audrain County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Audrain County: $4,954
- Housing at the median rent of $693 uses 14%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,289 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $693, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Audrain County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Audrain County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Audrain County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Audrain County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of Audrain County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Audrain County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Checklist for Audrain County applicants
A short checklist for Audrain County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Audrain County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Audrain County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Audrain County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Audrain County?
$59,448 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 61st of 115 in the state.
How does Audrain County rent compare with Missouri?
$693 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 33% below.
Does this page cover Mexico?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Audrain County, such as Centralia, Laddonia, Martinsburg.
Will a Audrain County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Audrain County residents?
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Missouri; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.