1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grundy County household earns $51,975, and 18% 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
- A quick profile of Grundy County
- Paychecks and income spread in Grundy County
- Grundy County housing compared with Missouri
- The Grundy County job picture
- Grundy County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Grundy County's medians
- People and households in Grundy County
- What the numbers mean for Grundy County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Grundy County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Grundy County
Grundy County is home to about 9,787 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 87th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Spread over 435 square miles, that works out to roughly 22.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Grundy County is not part of any metropolitan area. Trenton is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 5,536 people (57% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Grundy County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Grundy County
Grundy County households have a median income of $51,975 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 93rd of 115 in Missouri.
| Income band | Share in Grundy County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.1% | +10.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -5.8 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.6%, 5 points higher than the state's 12.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.502 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Grundy County housing compared with Missouri
Renters in Grundy County pay a median of $696 a month, 33% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $112,500, a typical Grundy County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 70% of homes.
| Measure | Grundy County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $696/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 11% | n/a |
The Grundy County job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Grundy County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Grundy County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Grundy County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.5% | +4.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Grundy County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Grundy County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 6,494 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | city | 5,536 | $50,015 | $703 | 3 mi |
| Spickard | city | 253 | $25,938 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Galt | city | 203 | $24,531 | $386 | 9 mi |
| Leisure Lake | CDP | 175 | $16,817 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Laredo | city | 109 | $45,000 | $492 | 9 mi |
| Brimson | village | 81 | $63,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Tindall | town | 74 | $39,000 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Edinburg | CDP | 63 | $43,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 30 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Grundy County; Daviess County is highest at $63,984 and Harrison County lowest at $54,367.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grundy County | - | $51,975 | $696/mo | 70% |
| Mercer County, MO | 21 mi | $62,679 | $590/mo | 81% |
| Livingston County, MO | 23 mi | $63,627 | $768/mo | 72% |
| Daviess County, MO | 24 mi | $63,984 | $696/mo | 79% |
| Sullivan County, MO | 25 mi | $56,964 | $673/mo | 75% |
| Harrison County, MO | 28 mi | $54,367 | $703/mo | 71% |
| Linn County, MO | 30 mi | $61,635 | $620/mo | 79% |
Debt-to-income at Grundy County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Grundy County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,331 a month: gross income for a household at the Grundy County median
- Median rent: $696, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- $820: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $1,949 total minus rent leaves $1,253
Two-income households and single earners in Grundy County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Grundy County
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Grundy County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.3% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Grundy County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
What the numbers mean for Grundy County borrowers
A few patterns in the Grundy County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Grundy County borrower sees (free reports).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Grundy County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Grundy County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Grundy County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Grundy County?
$51,975 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 93rd of 115 in the state.
What do renters pay in Grundy County?
$696 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Trenton?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Grundy County, such as Spickard, Galt, Leisure Lake.
Are Grundy 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 regulates personal lenders for Grundy 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.