1st Advantage MortgageCamden County households have a median income of $66,387 and median rent of $876 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
- Population and place: Camden County
- Renting and owning in Camden County
- Camden County industries and commutes
- What stands out in Camden County
- Camden County income bands
- Camden County, Miller County and other neighbors
- Places inside Camden County
- A Camden County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Camden County borrowers
- Camden County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Camden County borrowers
- Missouri rules that apply in Camden County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Camden County
Camden County is home to about 43,667 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 25th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Camden County spans 656 square miles; with 43,667 people, that is 66.6 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Camden County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Osage Beach is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 4,905 people (11% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Camden County
Renters in Camden County pay a median of $876 a month, 15% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. About 4 in 10 Camden County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $305,400; median income $66,387; ratio 4.6. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1988. Against the median U.S. county, Camden County rent is about level with.
| Measure | Camden County | Missouri | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 82% | 68% | +14.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | +9.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | -5.7 pts |
| Median home value | $305,400 | $230,300 | 33% higher |
| Median gross rent | $876/mo | $1,033/mo | 15% lower |
| Mobile homes | 6.6% | 5.2% | +1.4 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Camden 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.
Camden County industries and commutes
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Camden County residents work in education and health care and 18% in retail trade. Camden County over-indexes on retail trade: 18% versus 11% in Missouri. Unemployment in Camden County, ACS five-year: 4.3%; Missouri: 4.0%. 32% of Camden County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 10% need 45 or more. 2.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Camden County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.0% | +6.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What stands out in Camden County
- Camden County ranks the highest of 115 Missouri counties for the housing vacancy rate: 55%, against 11% statewide. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- On households without a vehicle, Camden County sits near the bottom of Missouri at 2.8%, 3rd lowest of 115. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- Median home value: $305,400 in Camden County. Only 2 of 115 Missouri counties are higher. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
Camden County income bands
The median household income in Camden County is $66,387; statewide it is $70,702, so Camden County runs 6% below Missouri as a whole. Only 26 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Camden County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | +0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.1% | -0.6 pts |
Six-figure households (31%) outnumber those under $35,000 (25%) in Camden County. Camden County counts about 5,504 residents below the poverty line, 12.6% of the population. Camden County scores 0.465 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Camden County, Miller County and other neighbors
Six nearby counties, 22 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Camden County's $66,387 median trails 0 of the six and beats 6; the range runs $39,390 (Hickory County) to $64,466 (Pulaski County).
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden County | - | $66,387 | $876/mo | 82% |
| Miller County, MO | 22 mi | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
| Laclede County, MO | 27 mi | $53,282 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Dallas County, MO | 28 mi | $53,464 | $642/mo | 76% |
| Morgan County, MO | 28 mi | $53,412 | $721/mo | 80% |
| Hickory County, MO | 31 mi | $39,390 | $648/mo | 82% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 33 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
Places inside Camden County
Places, by size: the top 10 of 10. Roughly 70% of Camden County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $39,521, Village of Four Seasons over Laurie. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osage Beach | city | 4,905 | $55,994 | $772 | 10 mi |
| Camdenton | city | 4,023 | $54,375 | $1,025 | 1 mi |
| Village of Four Seasons | village | 2,252 | $89,635 | $1,117 | 12 mi |
| Laurie | city | 965 | $50,114 | $788 | 13 mi |
| Sunrise Beach | village | 413 | $55,625 | $1,115 | 9 mi |
| Macks Creek | CDP | 290 | n/a | $1,596 | 12 mi |
| Linn Creek | city | 188 | $64,375 | $1,188 | 3 mi |
| Montreal | CDP | 114 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Climax Springs | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Friedenswald | village | 0 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
A Camden County household budget, worked through
Camden County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,532 gross per month ($66,387 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $876, takes 16% of that
- $1,060: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,614 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $876, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Camden County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Camden County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 10% of Camden County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Fixed incomes. Camden County's median age is 53.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Camden County residents: age, schooling, coverage
26% of Camden County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Camden County | +/- Missouri | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.2 | +14.2 yrs | +11.7 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | -6.2 pts | +4.1 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | -3.9 pts | -2.6 pts |
| Work from home | 10.5% | -2.5 pts | +1.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | +1.7 pts | +2.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | -1.3 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | +0.3 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 0.0 pts | -0.6 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Camden County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Four steps for Camden County borrowers
Quick steps for Camden County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Missouri rules that apply in Camden County
The Missouri Division of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Missouri license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Missouri page has statewide figures to set beside Camden County's.
Keep exploring
No city in Camden County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Camden County?
$66,387 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 27th of 115 in the state.
Is Camden County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $876 against $1,033 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Camden County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 82% of Camden County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Does this page cover Osage Beach?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Camden County, such as Camdenton, Village of Four Seasons, Laurie.
Are Camden 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.