1st Advantage MortgageIn Christian County, Missouri, the typical household earns $83,437 a year and the typical rent is $1,058. 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
- Christian County, MO: the basics
- Christian County housing compared with Missouri
- How much Christian County households make
- The Christian County job picture
- Regional comparison for Christian County
- Places inside Christian County
- Debt-to-income at Christian County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Christian County
- Christian County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Christian County borrower's checklist
- Missouri rules that apply in Christian County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Christian County, MO: the basics
With an estimated 92,915 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Christian County ranks 13th of 115 in Missouri for population. Land area is 563 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 165 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Springfield, MO metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 9 Census places inside Christian County, Nixa leads by population with about 24,836; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
Christian County housing compared with Missouri
Renters in Christian County pay a median of $1,058 a month, 2% above the Missouri figure of $1,033. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. With a median value of $274,900, a typical Christian County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Cost | Christian County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,058/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $274,900 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.2% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Christian County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How much Christian County households make
At $83,437, the typical Christian County household income is 27% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Christian County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.3% | -6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.2% | +5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.8% | +0.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 39% of Christian County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. Census counts 8.2% of Christian County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Christian County median.
The Christian County job picture
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Education and health care stands out: 27% of workers here, versus 24% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Christian County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.0% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Where residents work | Christian County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.8% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Regional comparison for Christian County
Stone County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Douglas County, is 37 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Christian County; Webster County is highest at $71,155 and Douglas County lowest at $45,985.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian County | - | $83,437 | $1,058/mo | 76% |
| Stone County, MO | 22 mi | $63,520 | $896/mo | 83% |
| Greene County, MO | 22 mi | $61,479 | $989/mo | 57% |
| Taney County, MO | 24 mi | $56,497 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Webster County, MO | 28 mi | $71,155 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Lawrence County, MO | 37 mi | $61,215 | $800/mo | 74% |
| Douglas County, MO | 37 mi | $45,985 | $700/mo | 81% |
Places inside Christian 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 61% of Christian County residents live in one of the 9. Fremont Hills has the highest median household income on the list ($171,250) and Billings the lowest ($47,344), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nixa | city | 24,836 | $83,385 | $1,083 | 8 mi |
| Ozark | city | 22,417 | $74,182 | $1,097 | 5 mi |
| Clever | city | 3,030 | $78,366 | $1,151 | 16 mi |
| Sparta | city | 2,331 | $63,182 | $768 | 6 mi |
| Fremont Hills | city | 1,574 | $171,250 | $963 | 7 mi |
| Highlandville | city | 950 | $56,786 | $1,014 | 6 mi |
| Billings | city | 844 | $47,344 | $850 | 21 mi |
| Saddlebrooke | village | 337 | $107,292 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Spokane | CDP | 319 | $113,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
Debt-to-income at Christian County's medians
How much room does a median Christian County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $83,437 a year is $6,953 of gross monthly income
- 15% goes to median rent ($1,058)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,445 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,932 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,058, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Christian County
Where the Christian County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Christian County residents: age, schooling, coverage
33% of Christian County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.6%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Measure | Christian County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Christian County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
A Christian County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Missouri rules that apply in Christian County
The Missouri Division of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Missouri license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christian County a high-income county?
Its $83,437 median ranks 6th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Christian County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,058 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Christian County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Christian County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Christian County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Nixa, Ozark, Clever, Sparta, Fremont Hills and 4 more.
Is the fit check different in Christian County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.