1st Advantage MortgageIn Carroll County, Missouri, the typical household earns $62,154 a year and the typical rent is $822. 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
- Carroll County at a glance
- Household income in Carroll County
- How Carroll County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Carroll County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Carroll County
- A Carroll County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
- Carroll County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Carroll County
- Missouri rules that apply in Carroll County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Carroll County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Carroll County's population at 8,411; only 96 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 695 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 12 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Carroll County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (7 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Carrollton, with about 3,145 residents, or 37% of the county. Because Carroll County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Household income in Carroll County
Carroll County households have a median income of $62,154 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 48th of 115 in Missouri.
| Households earning | Carroll County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -5.2 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 13.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Carroll County median.
How Carroll County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Carroll County. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Carroll County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.0% | +8.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Housing costs in Carroll County
A typical Carroll County rental runs $822 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Missouri. By the Census definition, 35% of Carroll County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $117,500, about 1.9 times the median household income. 72% of Carroll County households own their home and 28% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1961.
| Measure | Carroll County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $822/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 30 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Carroll County; Lafayette County is highest at $80,612 and Saline County lowest at $57,931.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | - | $62,154 | $822/mo | 72% |
| Livingston County, MO | 24 mi | $63,627 | $768/mo | 72% |
| Saline County, MO | 26 mi | $57,931 | $739/mo | 70% |
| Ray County, MO | 28 mi | $74,573 | $782/mo | 77% |
| Chariton County, MO | 29 mi | $71,520 | $567/mo | 83% |
| Lafayette County, MO | 30 mi | $80,612 | $928/mo | 76% |
| Caldwell County, MO | 30 mi | $64,806 | $640/mo | 78% |
Places inside Carroll County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Carroll County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 4,949 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,777 in Carrollton to $65,577 in Norborne. Median rent ranges from $495 in Hale to $834 in Carrollton. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrollton | city | 3,145 | $49,777 | $834 | 4 mi |
| Norborne | city | 676 | $65,577 | $675 | 13 mi |
| Hale | city | 525 | $51,875 | $495 | 15 mi |
| Bosworth | city | 202 | $46,923 | $842 | 9 mi |
| Tina | village | 177 | $52,500 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Bogard | city | 169 | $60,750 | n/a | 2 mi |
| De Witt | city | 55 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
A Carroll County household budget, worked through
Here is the Carroll County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,180 a month: gross income for a household at the Carroll County median
- Rent at the median, $822, takes 16% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $991 left for all other debt payments
- $1,509: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Carroll County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
Based on the Carroll County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 18% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Carroll County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Carroll County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. 8.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Carroll County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Carroll County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Steps before you apply in Carroll County
A short checklist for Carroll County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- 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 Carroll 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. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Carroll County?
$62,154 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 48th of 115 in the state.
How does Carroll County rent compare with Missouri?
$822 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 20% below.
What are the biggest places in Carroll County?
By population: Carrollton, Norborne, Hale, Bosworth, Tina. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Will a Carroll County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Carroll 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.