1st Advantage MortgageIn Clark County, Missouri, the typical household earns $51,781 a year and the typical rent is $612. 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
- Clark County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Clark County
- Household income in Clark County
- Jobs and commutes in Clark County
- How Clark County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Clark County
- Clark County households compared
- Before borrowing in Clark County
- A Clark County household budget, worked through
- A Clark County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Clark County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clark County by the numbers
Clark County is home to about 6,675 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 102nd most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 505 square miles of land, or about 13 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Clark County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (6 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Kahoka, with about 2,072 residents, or 31% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Clark County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in Clark County
Renters in Clark County pay a median of $612 a month, 41% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 36% of Clark County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $130,700, a typical Clark County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1970, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Clark County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $612/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,700 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.0% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Clark 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.
Household income in Clark County
Clark County households have a median income of $51,781 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 95th of 115 in Missouri.
| Household income | Clark County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +12.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.2% | -9.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.2 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. 11.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.450 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Clark County
The biggest employer of Clark County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Clark County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Clark County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.1% | +10.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.7% | -0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Clark County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Lee County at 21 miles out to Hancock County at 30. All of the six report a higher median household income than Clark County; Scotland County is highest at $68,913 and Knox County lowest at $57,788. The list crosses into Iowa, Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | - | $51,781 | $612/mo | 78% |
| Lee County, IA | 21 mi | $62,382 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Scotland County, MO | 22 mi | $68,913 | $511/mo | 82% |
| Lewis County, MO | 22 mi | $59,934 | $644/mo | 76% |
| Van Buren County, IA | 27 mi | $61,161 | $622/mo | 82% |
| Knox County, MO | 29 mi | $57,788 | $666/mo | 85% |
| Hancock County, IL | 30 mi | $65,865 | $782/mo | 81% |
Places inside Clark County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Clark County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 3,283 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Clark County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahoka | city | 2,072 | $48,370 | $536 | 1 mi |
| Wayland | city | 439 | $22,455 | $383 | 8 mi |
| Wyaconda | city | 195 | $50,667 | $483 | 10 mi |
| Luray | village | 181 | $57,321 | n/a | 9 mi |
| St. Francisville | CDP | 142 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Medill | CDP | 104 | $152,857 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Alexandria | city | 103 | $33,333 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Revere | town | 47 | $56,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
Clark County households compared
15% of Clark County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.9%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| People and households | Clark County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Clark County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Before borrowing in Clark County
A few patterns in the Clark County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Clark County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
A Clark County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Clark County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $51,781 a year is $4,315 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $612, takes 14% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,243 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Clark County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Clark County:
- Price the Clark County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Clark County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Clark County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clark County household make?
About $51,781 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 27% below the Missouri median.
How does Clark County rent compare with Missouri?
$612 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 41% below.
Does this page cover Kahoka?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Clark County, such as Wayland, Wyaconda, Luray.
Is the fit check different in Clark County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Clark 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.