1st Advantage MortgageThe median Caldwell County household earns $64,806, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Caldwell County
- Jobs and commutes in Caldwell County
- Homes and rents, Caldwell County
- Caldwell County's most unusual numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Caldwell County
- Caldwell County and the counties next door
- Hamilton and the rest of Caldwell County
- Caldwell County households compared
- $5,400 a month: the Caldwell County median budget
- Borrowing situations common in Caldwell County
- Licensing and complaints for Caldwell County
- Four steps for Caldwell County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Caldwell County
Caldwell County is home to about 8,927 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 90th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 426 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. Metro area: Kansas City, MO-KS (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Caldwell County, Hamilton leads by population with about 1,755; 7 of the 7 are incorporated. At 8,927 people, Caldwell County is a small survey sample, so small differences in these figures may be noise.
Jobs and commutes in Caldwell County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Caldwell County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward public administration (9% against 4%). Unemployment in Caldwell County, ACS five-year: 2.9%; Missouri: 4.0%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 31%; under 15 minutes: 28%.
| Sector | Caldwell County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Public administration | 9.0% | +4.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Caldwell County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Homes and rents, Caldwell County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $640 in Caldwell County versus $1,033 statewide. About 2 in 10 Caldwell County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $166,500; median income $64,806; ratio 2.6. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Housing | Caldwell County | Missouri statewide | Caldwell County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $640/mo | $1,033/mo | 38% lower |
| Median home value | $166,500 | $230,300 | 28% lower |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | +10.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 21% | 46% | -24.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | +7.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 12.2% | 5.2% | +7.1 pts |
Caldwell County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Caldwell County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Caldwell County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Missouri, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Missouri counties match Caldwell County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 21% here, 46% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 115. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
- Caldwell County ranks 5th highest of 115 Missouri counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 31%, against 12% statewide. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- On median gross rent, Caldwell County sits near the bottom of Missouri at $640/mo, 19th lowest of 115. Lower rent can leave more room for a payment.
Paychecks and income spread in Caldwell County
Caldwell County households have a median income of $64,806 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 34th of 115 in Missouri.
| Yearly household income | Caldwell County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.7% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -4.4 pts |
26% under $35,000 and 26% at $100,000 or more: that is the Caldwell County income split. Poverty rate, Caldwell County: 10.3%; Missouri: 12.6%. Gini index for Caldwell County: 0.429. None of these numbers decides a Caldwell County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Caldwell County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 30 miles). Income ranges from $62,154 in Carroll County to $74,573 in Ray County; 3 of these neighbors top Caldwell County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County | - | $64,806 | $640/mo | 78% |
| Daviess County, MO | 21 mi | $63,984 | $696/mo | 79% |
| Clinton County, MO | 22 mi | $70,627 | $1,008/mo | 76% |
| Ray County, MO | 24 mi | $74,573 | $782/mo | 77% |
| Livingston County, MO | 24 mi | $63,627 | $768/mo | 72% |
| DeKalb County, MO | 28 mi | $69,826 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Carroll County, MO | 30 mi | $62,154 | $822/mo | 72% |
Hamilton and the rest of Caldwell County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Caldwell County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 4,463 residents, leaving about 50% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Hamilton ($65,213) and Braymer ($49,250) mark the top and bottom of Caldwell County's income range among larger places. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | city | 1,755 | $65,213 | $685 | 6 mi |
| Braymer | city | 795 | $49,250 | $621 | 11 mi |
| Kidder | city | 501 | $62,500 | $791 | 11 mi |
| Breckenridge | city | 485 | $32,199 | $619 | 12 mi |
| Polo | city | 480 | $53,523 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Kingston | city | 271 | $45,625 | $542 | 3 mi |
| Cowgill | city | 176 | $44,500 | $538 | 7 mi |
Caldwell County households compared
In Caldwell County, 20% of adults have at least a four-year degree (32% in Missouri). About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Caldwell County | Difference from Missouri | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | -12.5 pts | -2.2 pts |
| Median age | 43.2 | +4.2 yrs | +1.7 yrs |
| Work from home | 10.4% | -2.6 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | -2.2 pts | -2.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | -1.7 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | -1.1 pts | -1.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | +0.8 pts | +1.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 0.0 pts | n/a |
| One-way commute | Share of Caldwell County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.7% |
| 60+ min | 18.0% |
$5,400 a month: the Caldwell County median budget
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Caldwell County's medians:
- $64,806 a year is $5,400 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $640, takes 12% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,944 total minus rent leaves $1,304
- Under a 43% cap, $2,322 total minus rent leaves $1,682
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Caldwell County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Caldwell County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 31% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Caldwell County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Caldwell County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Licensing and complaints for Caldwell County
Caldwell County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. If a Caldwell County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Caldwell County borrowers
A short checklist for Caldwell County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Caldwell County rank on income in Missouri?
34th of 115, with a median of $64,806. The state median is $70,702.
How much is rent in Caldwell County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $640 a month; 21% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Caldwell County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live near Hamilton. Which guide is mine?
This one. Hamilton and the rest of Caldwell County have no separate city guide.
Are Caldwell County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.