1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dade County household earns $53,750, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Dade County, MO: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Dade County
- Paychecks and income spread in Dade County
- What it costs to live in Dade County
- How Dade County compares with nearby counties
- Dade County towns compared
- Dade County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Dade County
- Debt-to-income at Dade County's medians
- Lender oversight for Dade County
- Checklist for Dade County applicants
- More guides for Dade County
- Frequently asked questions
Dade County, MO: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Dade County's population at 7,641; only 98 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. It covers 490 square miles of land, or about 16 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dade County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Greenfield is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,229 people (16% of the county total). Because Dade County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Jobs and commutes in Dade County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Dade County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 2% for Missouri. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Dade County. About 76% drive to work alone and 26% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Dade County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.5% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.6% | +8.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dade County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Dade County
At $53,750, the typical Dade County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 83 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Dade County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.2% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.9% | +7.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Dade County households make $100,000 or more, and 30% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.6%, the same as the state's 12.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.438 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Dade 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.
What it costs to live in Dade County
A typical Dade County rental runs $683 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 31% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,600, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Measure | Dade County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $683/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $170,600 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Dade 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 Dade County compares with nearby counties
Cedar County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jasper County, is 31 miles off. Greene County leads the group on income ($61,479), Cedar County trails ($48,181), and Dade County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dade County | - | $53,750 | $683/mo | 77% |
| Cedar County, MO | 21 mi | $48,181 | $767/mo | 74% |
| Lawrence County, MO | 23 mi | $61,215 | $800/mo | 74% |
| Barton County, MO | 27 mi | $51,635 | $805/mo | 68% |
| Polk County, MO | 28 mi | $59,647 | $814/mo | 72% |
| Greene County, MO | 31 mi | $61,479 | $989/mo | 57% |
| Jasper County, MO | 31 mi | $60,694 | $973/mo | 63% |
Dade County towns compared
6 Census places fall mainly inside Dade County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 2,679 residents, leaving about 65% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Dade County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | city | 1,229 | $36,420 | $574 | 1 mi |
| Lockwood | city | 821 | $44,375 | $735 | 7 mi |
| Dadeville | village | 234 | $85,000 | $600 | 10 mi |
| Everton | city | 223 | $37,667 | $738 | 10 mi |
| South Greenfield | village | 138 | $26,250 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Arcola | village | 34 | $96,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
Dade County residents: age, schooling, coverage
15% of Dade County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Dade County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.1% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dade County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Dade County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dade County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 10% of Dade County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 26% of Dade County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.0, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Debt-to-income at Dade County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Dade County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Dade County: $4,479
- Median rent: $683, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $885 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,016 total minus rent leaves $1,333
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Lender oversight for Dade County
The Missouri Division of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Missouri license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Checklist for Dade County applicants
Steps that save money for Dade County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Dade County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dade County a high-income county?
Its $53,750 median ranks 84th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Dade County rent compare with Missouri?
$683 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 34% below.
What are the biggest places in Dade County?
By population: Greenfield, Lockwood, Dadeville, Everton, South Greenfield. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Dade County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Dade County residents?
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Missouri; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.