1st Advantage MortgageIn Buchanan County, Missouri, the typical household earns $62,158 a year and the typical rent is $902. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Buchanan County
- What Buchanan County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Buchanan County
- What it costs to live in Buchanan County
- How Buchanan County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Buchanan County
- More Buchanan County figures
- Reading the Buchanan County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Buchanan County
- Steps before you apply in Buchanan County
- Lender oversight for Buchanan County
- More guides for Buchanan County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Buchanan County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Buchanan County's population at 83,568; only 13 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 408 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 205 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Joseph, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (7 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is St. Joseph, with about 71,236 residents, or 85% of the county.
What Buchanan County households earn
The median household income in Buchanan County is $62,158; statewide it is $70,702, so Buchanan County runs 12% below Missouri as a whole. Only 46 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Band | Buchanan County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.3% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -2.9 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.0% of Buchanan County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.473 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Buchanan County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Buchanan County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Buchanan County residents work in education and health care and 21% in manufacturing. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.2% in Buchanan County. About 80% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 8.5% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Where residents work | Buchanan County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.7% | +9.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.1% | -4.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | 0.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Buchanan County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Buchanan County
Renters in Buchanan County pay a median of $902 a month, 13% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 50% of Buchanan County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $166,300, or 2.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 66%. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Buchanan County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $902/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $166,300 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 5.2% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Buchanan County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 20 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $61,112 in Atchison County to $96,227 in Platte County; 5 of these neighbors top Buchanan County's median. The list crosses into Kansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | - | $62,158 | $902/mo | 66% |
| Platte County, MO | 20 mi | $96,227 | $1,334/mo | 67% |
| Doniphan County, KS | 20 mi | $74,028 | $776/mo | 81% |
| Clinton County, MO | 22 mi | $70,627 | $1,008/mo | 76% |
| Andrew County, MO | 23 mi | $75,625 | $961/mo | 77% |
| DeKalb County, MO | 27 mi | $69,826 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Atchison County, KS | 28 mi | $61,112 | $765/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Buchanan County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Buchanan County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 73,993 residents, leaving about 11% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Agency has the highest median household income on the list ($106,000) and Dearborn the lowest ($49,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $454 in Dearborn to $1,031 in Agency. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph | city | 71,236 | $57,956 | $898 | 7 mi |
| Agency | village | 871 | $106,000 | $1,031 | 3 mi |
| Dearborn | city | 557 | $49,750 | $454 | 10 mi |
| De Kalb | town | 518 | $94,028 | $940 | 8 mi |
| Easton | city | 336 | $61,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Rushville | village | 260 | $60,938 | $825 | 13 mi |
| Faucett | CDP | 114 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Lewis and Clark Village | town | 101 | $93,750 | n/a | 16 mi |
More Buchanan County figures
24% of Buchanan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.2%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Residents | Buchanan County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Buchanan County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Reading the Buchanan County data as a borrower
Based on the Buchanan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Room for a loan payment in Buchanan County
How much room does a median Buchanan County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Buchanan County: $5,180
- Less median rent of $902, which is 17% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,325 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Buchanan County's.
Steps before you apply in Buchanan County
Quick steps for Buchanan County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Buchanan County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Ask a Buchanan County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Buchanan County
The Missouri Division of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Missouri license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Buchanan County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Buchanan County?
$62,158 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 47th of 115 in the state.
Is Buchanan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $902 against $1,033 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Buchanan County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: St. Joseph, Agency, Dearborn, De Kalb, Easton.
Will a Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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.