1st Advantage MortgageBarton County households have a median income of $51,635 and median rent of $805 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Barton County, MO: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Barton County
- Paychecks and income spread in Barton County
- What it costs to live in Barton County
- Barton County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Barton County
- Who lives in Barton County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Barton County
- Room for a loan payment in Barton County
- Steps before you apply in Barton County
- Who licenses lenders for Barton County residents
- More guides for Barton County
- Frequently asked questions
Barton County, MO: the basics
Barton County is home to about 11,690 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 78th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Spread over 592 square miles, that works out to roughly 19.7 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Barton County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Barton County, Lamar leads by population with about 4,284; 6 of the 9 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Barton County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Barton County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 2% for Missouri. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in Barton County. About 84% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Barton County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.3% | +8.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Barton County
At $51,635, the typical Barton County household income is 21% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Barton County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +11.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.8% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -6.1 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. 20.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.434 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Barton County median.
What it costs to live in Barton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $805 in Barton County versus $1,033 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Barton County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $136,500, a typical Barton County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Barton County households own their home and 32% rent.
| Cost | Barton County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $805/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.3% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 11% | n/a |
Barton County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 20 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Barton County; Jasper County is highest at $60,694 and Cedar County lowest at $48,181. Some neighbors are in Kansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Barton County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton County | - | $51,635 | $805/mo | 68% |
| Jasper County, MO | 20 mi | $60,694 | $973/mo | 63% |
| Vernon County, MO | 24 mi | $52,230 | $734/mo | 71% |
| Dade County, MO | 27 mi | $53,750 | $683/mo | 77% |
| Crawford County, KS | 28 mi | $52,844 | $849/mo | 61% |
| Cedar County, MO | 31 mi | $48,181 | $767/mo | 74% |
| Cherokee County, KS | 36 mi | $57,668 | $799/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Barton County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Barton County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 6,407 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,705 in Lamar to $65,250 in Liberal. No Barton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | city | 4,284 | $36,705 | $832 | 4 mi |
| Liberal | city | 747 | $65,250 | $650 | 10 mi |
| Golden City | city | 708 | $44,167 | $781 | 16 mi |
| Mindenmines | city | 312 | $22,292 | $371 | 13 mi |
| Iantha | CDP | 124 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Lamar Heights | city | 111 | n/a | $817 | 3 mi |
| Milford | village | 54 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Irwin | CDP | 43 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Burgess | CDP | 24 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
Who lives in Barton County, in numbers
17% of Barton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Barton County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Barton County
Based on the Barton County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Barton County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Barton County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Barton County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Barton County's medians:
- $4,303 a month: gross income for a household at the Barton County median
- Less median rent of $805, which is 19% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $744 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Barton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Barton County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Barton County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Barton County-area credit union.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Barton County residents
Barton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
More guides for Barton County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Barton County earn?
The median is $51,635; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 35% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Barton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $805 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Barton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Lamar, Liberal, Golden City, Mindenmines, Iantha.
Will a Barton 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 Barton 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.