1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Clinton County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $70,627. 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
- Getting oriented in Clinton County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Clinton County
- How much Clinton County households make
- Employment and commuting in Clinton County
- Towns and communities in Clinton County
- Clinton County next to its neighbors
- What a median Clinton County budget can carry
- People and households in Clinton County
- Local borrowing considerations for Clinton County
- Checklist for Clinton County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Clinton County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Clinton County
With an estimated 21,414 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Clinton County ranks 53rd of 115 in Missouri for population. Land area is 419 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 51 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Clinton County, Cameron leads by population with about 8,519; 7 of the 9 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Clinton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,008 in Clinton County versus $1,033 statewide. By the Census definition, 34% of Clinton County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $226,800, or 3.2 years of median income. 76% of Clinton County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1978.
| Measure | Clinton County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,008/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $226,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.5% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Clinton County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much Clinton County households make
At $70,627, the typical Clinton County household income is 8% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 20th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Clinton County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -2.3 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.3% of Clinton County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.437 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $70,627 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Clinton County
The biggest employer of Clinton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward manufacturing (16% against 11%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Clinton County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.1% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Clinton County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Clinton County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 16,345 people, so roughly 24% of residents live outside any named place. Gower has the highest median household income on the list ($83,750) and Cameron the lowest ($61,791), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron | city | 8,519 | $61,791 | $1,063 | 13 mi |
| Lathrop | city | 2,560 | $67,178 | $844 | 5 mi |
| Plattsburg | city | 2,253 | $63,423 | $772 | 5 mi |
| Gower | city | 1,799 | $83,750 | $926 | 11 mi |
| Trimble | city | 561 | $65,563 | $909 | 13 mi |
| Osborn | city | 424 | $52,054 | $802 | 10 mi |
| Turney | village | 108 | $63,542 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Lake Arrowhead | CDP | 93 | $34,886 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Grayson | CDP | 28 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Clinton County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Clinton County's, from 20 to 30 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Clinton County; Platte County is highest at $96,227 and Buchanan County lowest at $62,158.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | - | $70,627 | $1,008/mo | 76% |
| DeKalb County, MO | 20 mi | $69,826 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Clay County, MO | 20 mi | $88,468 | $1,243/mo | 69% |
| Buchanan County, MO | 22 mi | $62,158 | $902/mo | 66% |
| Caldwell County, MO | 22 mi | $64,806 | $640/mo | 78% |
| Platte County, MO | 25 mi | $96,227 | $1,334/mo | 67% |
| Ray County, MO | 30 mi | $74,573 | $782/mo | 77% |
What a median Clinton County budget can carry
How much room does a median Clinton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,886 a month: gross income for a household at the Clinton County median
- Median rent: $1,008, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,052 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,641 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Clinton County's.
People and households in Clinton County
22% of Clinton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Clinton County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.1% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Clinton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Clinton County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Clinton County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Clinton County budgets.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checklist for Clinton County applicants
Quick steps for Clinton County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Clinton County residents
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
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clinton County earn?
The median is $70,627; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Clinton County rent compare with Missouri?
$1,008 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 2% below.
I own my home in Clinton County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Clinton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Cameron, Lathrop, Plattsburg, Gower, Trimble.
Is the fit check different in Clinton County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.