1st Advantage MortgageCooper County households have a median income of $70,625 and median rent of $782 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Cooper County
- Employment and commuting in Cooper County
- Household income in Cooper County
- Renting and owning in Cooper County
- Places inside Cooper County
- Cooper County next to its neighbors
- Cooper County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Cooper County
- What a median Cooper County budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Missouri rules that apply in Cooper County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cooper County
Roughly 16,824 residents live in Cooper County, Missouri, 63rd by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. It covers 565 square miles of land, or about 30 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Columbia, MO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 8 Census places inside Cooper County, Boonville leads by population with about 7,689; 8 of the 8 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Cooper County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (4% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 80% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Cooper County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cooper County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Cooper County
Half of Cooper County households take in less than $70,625 a year and half take in more, about the same as the Missouri median of $70,702. That places it 21st among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Household income | Cooper County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.2% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.4% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -4.5 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.7% of Cooper County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.406 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Cooper County median.
Renting and owning in Cooper County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $782 in Cooper County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $203,500, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Cooper County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $782/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $203,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Cooper 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.
Places inside Cooper County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Cooper County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 10,061 residents, leaving about 40% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boonville | city | 7,689 | $56,429 | $767 | 9 mi |
| Pilot Grove | city | 744 | $73,977 | $717 | 6 mi |
| Otterville | city | 489 | $48,828 | $800 | 14 mi |
| Windsor Place | village | 405 | $99,375 | $1,000 | 8 mi |
| Bunceton | city | 256 | $43,500 | $650 | 4 mi |
| Prairie Home | city | 251 | $53,750 | $825 | 12 mi |
| Blackwater | city | 207 | $66,389 | $938 | 13 mi |
| Wooldridge | village | 20 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
Cooper County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cooper County's, from 19 to 30 miles away. Income ranges from $53,412 in Morgan County to $72,758 in Boone County; 1 of these neighbors top Cooper County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper County | - | $70,625 | $782/mo | 76% |
| Moniteau County, MO | 19 mi | $65,715 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Howard County, MO | 21 mi | $65,938 | $832/mo | 79% |
| Pettis County, MO | 27 mi | $60,430 | $885/mo | 69% |
| Boone County, MO | 29 mi | $72,758 | $1,088/mo | 58% |
| Saline County, MO | 29 mi | $57,931 | $739/mo | 70% |
| Morgan County, MO | 30 mi | $53,412 | $721/mo | 80% |
Cooper County residents: age, schooling, coverage
24% of Cooper County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Cooper County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Cooper County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Before borrowing in Cooper County
What the Cooper County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Cooper County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
What a median Cooper County budget can carry
Here is the Cooper County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,885 before taxes
- 13% goes to median rent ($782)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,531 total minus rent leaves $1,749
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Cooper County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cooper County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Missouri rules that apply in Cooper County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Cooper County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Related local guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cooper County?
$70,625 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 21st of 115 in the state.
Is Cooper County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $782 against $1,033 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Cooper 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.
What are the biggest places in Cooper County?
By population: Boonville, Pilot Grove, Otterville, Windsor Place, Bunceton. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Cooper County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.