1st Advantage MortgageHolt County households have a median income of $61,187 and median rent of $650 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Holt County
- Income in Holt County compared with Missouri
- Housing costs in Holt County
- How Holt County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Holt County
- The counties around Holt County
- Who lives in Holt County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Holt County
- A Holt County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Holt County
- Missouri rules that apply in Holt County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Holt County
With an estimated 4,240 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Holt County ranks 111th of 115 in Missouri for population. Land area is 463 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Mound City is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 1,066 people (25% of the county total). Because Holt County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Income in Holt County compared with Missouri
At $61,187, the typical Holt County household income is 7% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 54th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Band | Holt County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +2.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.7% | +6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Holt County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.2% of Holt County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.443 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 Holt County median.
Housing costs in Holt County
Renters in Holt County pay a median of $650 a month, 37% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. 19% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 6% spend half or more. Home values center on $138,200, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 1965.
| Holt County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $650/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $138,200 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 19% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 27% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Holt 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.
How Holt County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Holt County averages 1.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Holt County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.2% | +7.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | +1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Holt County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Holt County residents live in one of the 9. Live in one of these Holt County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mound City | city | 1,066 | $62,468 | $688 | 3 mi |
| Oregon | city | 882 | $67,625 | $534 | 9 mi |
| Maitland | city | 385 | $47,500 | $455 | 10 mi |
| Forest City | city | 193 | $46,875 | $393 | 8 mi |
| Craig | city | 113 | $37,292 | $810 | 11 mi |
| Big Lake | village | 82 | $45,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Fortescue | town | 8 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Bigelow | village | 0 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Corning | town | 0 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
The counties around Holt County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 26 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Andrew County leads the group on income ($75,625), Atchison County trails ($58,750), and Holt County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Kansas, Nebraska, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holt County | - | $61,187 | $650/mo | 77% |
| Doniphan County, KS | 22 mi | $74,028 | $776/mo | 81% |
| Andrew County, MO | 23 mi | $75,625 | $961/mo | 77% |
| Nodaway County, MO | 26 mi | $59,315 | $786/mo | 62% |
| Atchison County, MO | 26 mi | $58,750 | $631/mo | 77% |
| Brown County, KS | 26 mi | $62,233 | $646/mo | 76% |
| Richardson County, NE | 26 mi | $60,108 | $691/mo | 77% |
Who lives in Holt County, in numbers
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. 9.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Holt County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.2% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Holt County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Holt County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Holt County borrowers.
- Fixed incomes. Holt County's median age is 47.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Consolidating cards in Holt County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
A Holt County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Holt County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Holt County: $5,099
- Rent at the median, $650, takes 13% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,543 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Steps before you apply in Holt County
A short checklist for Holt County borrowers:
- Price the Holt County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Missouri rules that apply in Holt County
Holt County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holt County a high-income county?
Its $61,187 median ranks 54th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Holt County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $650 a month; 19% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Holt County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Holt 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 Holt County?
By population: Mound City, Oregon, Maitland, Forest City, Craig. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Can Holt 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.