1st Advantage MortgageCedar County households have a median income of $48,181 and median rent of $767 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Cedar County
- Income in Cedar County compared with Missouri
- Jobs and commutes in Cedar County
- Housing costs in Cedar County
- Cedar County towns compared
- Cedar County and the counties next door
- Cedar County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Cedar County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Cedar County
- Checklist for Cedar County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- More guides for Cedar County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cedar County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cedar County's population at 14,615; only 69 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 474 square miles, that works out to roughly 30.8 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. El Dorado Springs is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 3,586 people (25% of the county total).
Income in Cedar County compared with Missouri
Cedar County households have a median income of $48,181 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 103rd of 115 in Missouri.
| Households earning | Cedar County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.4% | +14.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.5% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -5.2 pts |
Some 38% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 17.0% of Cedar County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.495 here. For a borrower in Cedar 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 Cedar County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Cedar County residents work in education and health care and 16% in retail trade. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward retail trade (16% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Cedar County. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cedar County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 11.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Other services | 8.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -4.1 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 Cedar County
Renters in Cedar County pay a median of $767 a month, 26% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $168,100, a typical Cedar County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1980.
| Measure | Cedar County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $767/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.7% | 5.2% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Cedar County towns compared
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Cedar County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 5,864 people, so roughly 60% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Cedar County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dorado Springs | city | 3,586 | $32,128 | $775 | 13 mi |
| Stockton | city | 1,950 | $37,679 | $609 | 4 mi |
| Jerico Springs | village | 279 | $65,417 | $479 | 12 mi |
| Umber View Heights | village | 49 | $53,958 | n/a | 8 mi |
Cedar County and the counties next door
Dade County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hickory County, is 32 miles off. Polk County leads the group on income ($59,647), Hickory County trails ($39,390), and Cedar County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar County | - | $48,181 | $767/mo | 74% |
| Dade County, MO | 21 mi | $53,750 | $683/mo | 77% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 22 mi | $53,043 | $622/mo | 76% |
| Polk County, MO | 26 mi | $59,647 | $814/mo | 72% |
| Vernon County, MO | 28 mi | $52,230 | $734/mo | 71% |
| Barton County, MO | 31 mi | $51,635 | $805/mo | 68% |
| Hickory County, MO | 32 mi | $39,390 | $648/mo | 82% |
Cedar County households compared
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Cedar County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cedar County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
What the numbers mean for Cedar County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Cedar County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Cedar County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Cedar County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Room for a loan payment in Cedar County
Cedar County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,015 gross per month ($48,181 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $767, takes 19% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $1,606 total minus rent leaves $839
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cedar County's.
Checklist for Cedar County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cedar County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
Cedar County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Cedar County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cedar County a high-income county?
Its $48,181 median ranks 103rd of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Cedar County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $767 against $1,033 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Cedar County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Cedar County?
By population: El Dorado Springs, Stockton, Jerico Springs, Umber View Heights. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Can Cedar 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.