1st Advantage MortgageDouglas County households have a median income of $45,985 and median rent of $700 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
- Getting oriented in Douglas County
- How Douglas County residents earn a living
- Household income in Douglas County
- Renting and owning in Douglas County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Douglas County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Douglas County budget can carry
- Reading the Douglas County data as a borrower
- Douglas County households compared
- Four steps for Douglas County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Douglas County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Douglas County
Roughly 11,965 residents live in Douglas County, Missouri, 75th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 814 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 15 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Douglas County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Ava, with about 3,045 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county.
How Douglas County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Douglas County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in Douglas County. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Douglas County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -5.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.0% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.9% | +4.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -4.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Douglas County
At $45,985, the typical Douglas County household income is 30% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 108 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Band | Douglas County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.7% | +11.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.5% | -10.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.0 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. 17.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.505 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Douglas County median.
Renting and owning in Douglas County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $700 in Douglas County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. Home values center on $168,200, or 3.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 81%. The median year built is 1987.
| Home costs | Douglas County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $700/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,200 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Douglas 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Douglas County
Just one Census place, Ava, lies mainly within Douglas County; it holds about 3,045 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ava | city | 3,045 | $42,500 | $696 | 8 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Douglas County's, from 21 to 37 miles away. Christian County leads the group on income ($83,437), Ozark County trails ($44,163), and Douglas County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | - | $45,985 | $700/mo | 81% |
| Ozark County, MO | 21 mi | $44,163 | $631/mo | 82% |
| Wright County, MO | 22 mi | $47,909 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Webster County, MO | 30 mi | $71,155 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Taney County, MO | 36 mi | $56,497 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Howell County, MO | 37 mi | $50,993 | $733/mo | 70% |
| Christian County, MO | 37 mi | $83,437 | $1,058/mo | 76% |
What a median Douglas County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Douglas County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,832 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $700, takes 18% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $1,648 total minus rent leaves $948
If your rent is above $700, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Douglas County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Douglas County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Douglas County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Douglas County households compared
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Douglas County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Douglas County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 15.7% |
Four steps for Douglas County borrowers
A short checklist for Douglas County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Douglas County
Douglas County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Douglas County?
$45,985 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 109th of 115 in the state.
Is Douglas County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $700 against $1,033 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Douglas County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Ava.
Are Douglas County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Douglas County?
Start with the Missouri Division of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.