1st Advantage MortgageThe median Callaway County household earns $74,176, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Callaway County
- Paychecks and income spread in Callaway County
- How Callaway County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Callaway County
- Regional comparison for Callaway County
- Callaway County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Callaway County
- What the numbers mean for Callaway County borrowers
- People and households in Callaway County
- Lender oversight for Callaway County
- A Callaway County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Callaway County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Callaway County
With an estimated 44,741 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Callaway County ranks 24th of 115 in Missouri for population. Packed into 835 square miles, that is close to 54 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Jefferson City, MO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (6 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Fulton, with about 12,617 residents, or 28% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Callaway County
Half of Callaway County households take in less than $74,176 a year and half take in more, 5% above the Missouri median of $70,702. That places it 15th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Callaway County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.1% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -2.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Callaway County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.6%, 1 point lower than the state's 12.6%. None of these numbers decides a Callaway County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Callaway County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 10% locally and 4% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Callaway County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 10.2% | +6.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -2.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Callaway County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $887 in Callaway County versus $1,033 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of Callaway County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $201,600, or 2.7 years of median income. 76% of Callaway County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1987.
| Housing | Callaway County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $887/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $201,600 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Callaway 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.
Regional comparison for Callaway County
Distances run center to center, from Boone County at 23 miles out to Gasconade County at 35. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Callaway County; Osage County is highest at $76,681 and Audrain County lowest at $59,448.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callaway County | - | $74,176 | $887/mo | 76% |
| Boone County, MO | 23 mi | $72,758 | $1,088/mo | 58% |
| Montgomery County, MO | 26 mi | $65,500 | $788/mo | 73% |
| Osage County, MO | 26 mi | $76,681 | $639/mo | 79% |
| Audrain County, MO | 27 mi | $59,448 | $693/mo | 72% |
| Cole County, MO | 30 mi | $74,876 | $834/mo | 68% |
| Gasconade County, MO | 35 mi | $64,232 | $743/mo | 81% |
Callaway County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Callaway County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 20,311 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,429 in Fulton to $85,064 in Holts Summit. Live in one of these Callaway County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton | city | 12,617 | $51,429 | $836 | 2 mi |
| Holts Summit | city | 4,609 | $85,064 | $1,122 | 17 mi |
| Auxvasse | city | 1,452 | $56,307 | $568 | 13 mi |
| New Bloomfield | city | 876 | $76,146 | $972 | 12 mi |
| Tebbetts | CDP | 386 | $76,089 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Mokane | city | 257 | $90,143 | $775 | 11 mi |
| Kingdom City | village | 114 | $32,813 | $843 | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Callaway County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Callaway County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Callaway County: $6,181
- Less median rent of $887, which is 14% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,338 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $2,658 total minus rent leaves $1,771
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Callaway County borrowers
What the Callaway County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
People and households in Callaway County
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. 8.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Callaway County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Callaway County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Lender oversight for Callaway County
Consumer lenders serving Callaway County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
A Callaway County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Callaway County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Callaway County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Callaway County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Callaway County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Callaway County earn?
The median is $74,176; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Callaway County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $887 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Fulton?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Callaway County, such as Holts Summit, Auxvasse, New Bloomfield.
Can Callaway 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Callaway 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.