1st Advantage MortgageThe median DeKalb County household earns $69,826, and 9% 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
- DeKalb County at a glance
- What DeKalb County households earn
- The DeKalb County job picture
- DeKalb County housing compared with Missouri
- The communities that make up DeKalb County
- The counties around DeKalb County
- What a median DeKalb County budget can carry
- DeKalb County households compared
- Before borrowing in DeKalb County
- Lender oversight for DeKalb County
- Checklist for DeKalb County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
DeKalb County at a glance
Roughly 10,876 residents live in DeKalb County, Missouri, 80th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 421 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 26 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Joseph, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 6 Census places inside DeKalb County, Maysville leads by population with about 947; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
What DeKalb County households earn
The median household income in DeKalb County is $69,826, close to the statewide $70,702. In the state ranking that is 22nd of 115.
| Household income | DeKalb County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -3.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of DeKalb County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. 8.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.416 (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 DeKalb County median.
The DeKalb County job picture
The biggest employer of DeKalb County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for DeKalb County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). About 77% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | DeKalb County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -3.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +2.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
DeKalb County housing compared with Missouri
A typical DeKalb County rental runs $817 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Missouri. 27% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 10% spend half or more. With a median value of $169,200, a typical DeKalb County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 71% of homes.
| Home costs | DeKalb County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $817/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $169,200 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 11% | n/a |
The communities that make up DeKalb County
6 Census places fall mainly inside DeKalb County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 2,896 residents, leaving about 73% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Stewartsville has the highest median household income on the list ($80,972) and Maysville the lowest ($44,271), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $675 in Maysville to $913 in Union Star. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maysville | city | 947 | $44,271 | $675 | 2 mi |
| Stewartsville | city | 844 | $80,972 | $867 | 11 mi |
| Union Star | town | 559 | $61,299 | $913 | 12 mi |
| Clarksdale | city | 399 | $69,896 | $408 | 9 mi |
| Weatherby | town | 75 | $28,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Amity | town | 72 | $85,357 | n/a | 2 mi |
The counties around DeKalb County
Clinton County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Caldwell County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $55,848 in Gentry County to $75,625 in Andrew County; 2 of these neighbors top DeKalb County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | - | $69,826 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Clinton County, MO | 20 mi | $70,627 | $1,008/mo | 76% |
| Gentry County, MO | 22 mi | $55,848 | $636/mo | 74% |
| Andrew County, MO | 22 mi | $75,625 | $961/mo | 77% |
| Daviess County, MO | 24 mi | $63,984 | $696/mo | 79% |
| Buchanan County, MO | 27 mi | $62,158 | $902/mo | 66% |
| Caldwell County, MO | 28 mi | $64,806 | $640/mo | 78% |
What a median DeKalb County budget can carry
Here is the DeKalb County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,819 gross per month ($69,826 / 12)
- Less median rent of $817, which is 14% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,278 a month
- $1,685: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of DeKalb County's.
DeKalb County households compared
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 6.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | DeKalb County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 11.3% |
Before borrowing in DeKalb County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for DeKalb County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many DeKalb County budgets.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Lender oversight for DeKalb County
Consumer lenders serving DeKalb County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for DeKalb County applicants
A short checklist for DeKalb County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in DeKalb County?
$69,826 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 22nd of 115 in the state.
How much is rent in DeKalb County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $817 a month; 27% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the DeKalb County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Maysville, Stewartsville, Union Star, Clarksdale, Weatherby.
Can DeKalb County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Missouri county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in DeKalb County?
Start with the Missouri Division of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.