1st Advantage MortgageDent County households have a median income of $56,312 and median rent of $660 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Dent County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Dent County
- Paychecks and income spread in Dent County
- Jobs and commutes in Dent County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Dent County
- Counties near Dent County
- Debt-to-income at Dent County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Dent County
- People and households in Dent County
- Checklist for Dent County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Dent County
- More guides for Dent County
- Frequently asked questions
Dent County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Dent County's population at 14,539; only 70 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. It covers 753 square miles of land, or about 19 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 1 Census place inside Dent County, Salem leads by population with about 4,677.
Renting and owning in Dent County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $660 in Dent County versus $1,033 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $167,500, a typical Dent County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | Dent County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $660/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $167,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Dent 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Dent County
At $56,312, the typical Dent County household income is 14% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 74 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Dent County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.8% | +9.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.1% | -6.6 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.2%, the same as the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.444 here. For a borrower in Dent 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.
Jobs and commutes in Dent County
The biggest employer of Dent County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 8% locally and 4% for Missouri. The survey's unemployment rate for Dent County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.1% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Sector | Dent County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -3.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dent County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Dent County
Salem is the only Census place mainly inside Dent County, with about 4,677 of the county's 14,539 residents. Live in one of these Dent County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | city | 4,677 | $43,923 | $639 | 4 mi |
Counties near Dent County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 40 miles). Income ranges from $45,028 in Reynolds County to $58,396 in Phelps County; 2 of these neighbors top Dent County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dent County | - | $56,312 | $660/mo | 76% |
| Phelps County, MO | 25 mi | $58,396 | $798/mo | 62% |
| Crawford County, MO | 27 mi | $57,629 | $795/mo | 69% |
| Shannon County, MO | 32 mi | $55,222 | $574/mo | 80% |
| Reynolds County, MO | 33 mi | $45,028 | $655/mo | 80% |
| Texas County, MO | 33 mi | $50,036 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, MO | 40 mi | $56,043 | $684/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Dent County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Dent County's medians:
- Start: $4,693 gross per month ($56,312 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $660, takes 14% of that
- $1,217: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Dent County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Dent County
What the Dent County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Dent County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
People and households in Dent County
16% of Dent County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 15.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Dent County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dent County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Checklist for Dent County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dent County:
- 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.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Dent County
Dent County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Dent County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dent County household make?
About $56,312 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the Missouri median.
How much is rent in Dent County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $660 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Dent County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Dent County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Dent County?
By population: Salem. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Is the fit check different in Dent County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.