1st Advantage MortgageThe median Benton County household earns $52,567, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Missouri license first.
On this page
- Benton County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Benton County
- What Benton County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Benton County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Benton County
- Benton County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Benton County's medians
- Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Benton County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Benton County residents
- A Benton County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Benton County
- Frequently asked questions
Benton County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Benton County's population at 20,151; only 54 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 704 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 29 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (4 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Warsaw, with about 1,980 residents, or 10% of the county.
What it costs to live in Benton County
A typical Benton County rental runs $773 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Missouri. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. Home values center on $177,900, or 3.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 84%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Benton County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $773/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $177,900 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.0% | 5.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Benton County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
What Benton County households earn
Benton County households have a median income of $52,567 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 90th of 115 in Missouri.
| Household income | Benton County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.9% | +11.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Benton County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.9%, 7 points higher than the state's 12.6%. A household earning below the $52,567 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Benton County
The biggest employer of Benton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by construction (14%). Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward construction (14% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Benton County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Sector | Benton County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | +0.8 pts |
| Construction | 13.9% | +7.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.0% | +2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Benton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Benton County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 29% of Benton County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $63,200 at the median in Lincoln, $41,413 in Warsaw. Median rent ranges from $497 in Cole Camp to $802 in Lincoln. Live in one of these Benton County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | city | 1,980 | $41,413 | $727 | 6 mi |
| Lincoln | city | 1,787 | $63,200 | $802 | 7 mi |
| Cole Camp | city | 1,436 | $47,083 | $497 | 12 mi |
| Bent Tree Harbor | CDP | 391 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| White Branch | CDP | 177 | $62,540 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Ionia | town | 74 | $16,875 | n/a | 14 mi |
Benton County and the counties next door
Morgan County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Camden County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $39,390 in Hickory County to $66,387 in Camden County; 5 of these neighbors top Benton County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | - | $52,567 | $773/mo | 84% |
| Morgan County, MO | 24 mi | $53,412 | $721/mo | 80% |
| Hickory County, MO | 25 mi | $39,390 | $648/mo | 82% |
| Henry County, MO | 28 mi | $57,926 | $768/mo | 75% |
| Pettis County, MO | 29 mi | $60,430 | $885/mo | 69% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 32 mi | $53,043 | $622/mo | 76% |
| Camden County, MO | 34 mi | $66,387 | $876/mo | 82% |
Debt-to-income at Benton County's medians
Benton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $52,567 a year is $4,381 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $773 uses 18%
- $804: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,111 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Benton County's.
Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
What the Benton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 24% of Benton County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 21% of Benton County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 54.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Who lives in Benton County, in numbers
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.2%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Residents | Benton County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Benton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.7% |
Who licenses lenders for Benton County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Benton County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
A Benton County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Benton County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Benton County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Benton County?
$52,567 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 90th of 115 in the state.
How much is rent in Benton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $773 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Benton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Warsaw, Lincoln, Cole Camp, Bent Tree Harbor, White Branch.
Can Benton County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Missouri county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Benton County check a lender's license?
With the Missouri Division of Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.