1st Advantage MortgageChariton County households have a median income of $71,520 and median rent of $567 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Chariton County
- What it costs to live in Chariton County
- How much Chariton County households make
- How Chariton County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chariton County
- Chariton County and the counties next door
- What a median Chariton County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Chariton County
- Who lives in Chariton County, in numbers
- Missouri rules that apply in Chariton County
- Four steps for Chariton County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Chariton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Chariton County's population at 7,390; only 99 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. It covers 751 square miles of land, or about 10 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Salisbury is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 1,540 people (21% of the county total). Because Chariton County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What it costs to live in Chariton County
A typical Chariton County rental runs $567 a month including utilities, which is 45% below Missouri. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $160,900, about 2.2 times the median household income. 83% of Chariton County households own their home and 17% rent. The median home was built in 1968, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Chariton County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $567/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $160,900 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 29% | 11% | 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).
How much Chariton County households make
The median household income in Chariton County is $71,520, close to the statewide $70,702. That places it 18th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Chariton County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.8% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.8% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -2.4 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.8%, 4 points lower than the state's 12.6%. For a borrower in Chariton 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.
How Chariton County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Chariton County residents work in education and health care and 11% in manufacturing. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Chariton County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.7% | +7.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Chariton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chariton County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 45% of Chariton County residents live in one of the 9. No Chariton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury | city | 1,540 | $65,329 | $721 | 11 mi |
| Brunswick | city | 859 | $39,531 | $472 | 11 mi |
| Keytesville | city | 435 | $40,682 | $447 | 6 mi |
| Mendon | city | 194 | $75,313 | $750 | 10 mi |
| Prairie Hill | CDP | 120 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Sumner | town | 68 | $45,000 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Rothville | village | 56 | $42,500 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Triplett | city | 38 | $76,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Dalton | town | 17 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Chariton County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 25 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Howard County leads the group on income ($65,938), Randolph County trails ($53,033), and Chariton County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chariton County | - | $71,520 | $567/mo | 83% |
| Linn County, MO | 25 mi | $61,635 | $620/mo | 79% |
| Randolph County, MO | 26 mi | $53,033 | $760/mo | 71% |
| Carroll County, MO | 29 mi | $62,154 | $822/mo | 72% |
| Saline County, MO | 29 mi | $57,931 | $739/mo | 70% |
| Howard County, MO | 30 mi | $65,938 | $832/mo | 79% |
| Macon County, MO | 30 mi | $62,357 | $672/mo | 77% |
What a median Chariton County budget can carry
How much room does a median Chariton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,960 gross per month ($71,520 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $567 uses 10%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,563 total minus rent leaves $1,996
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Chariton County
Based on the Chariton County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in Chariton County, in numbers
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. 4.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Chariton County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.6% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Missouri rules that apply in Chariton County
Chariton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Chariton County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Chariton County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Chariton County-area credit union.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Chariton County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Chariton County household make?
About $71,520 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
How does Chariton County rent compare with Missouri?
$567 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 45% below.
Which towns does the Chariton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Salisbury, Brunswick, Keytesville, Mendon, Prairie Hill.
Is the fit check different in Chariton County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Chariton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.