1st Advantage MortgageThe median Iron County household earns $48,850, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Iron County at a glance
- What Iron County households earn
- What it costs to live in Iron County
- Employment and commuting in Iron County
- Counties near Iron County
- The communities that make up Iron County
- What a median Iron County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Iron County
- Iron County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Iron County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Iron County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Iron County's population at 9,446; only 88 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 550 square miles, that works out to roughly 17.2 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Ironton is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,692 people (18% of the county total). Because Iron County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Iron County households earn
At $48,850, the typical Iron County household income is 26% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Iron County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.7% | +13.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.5% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.7% | -5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.1% | -6.6 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 22% clear $100,000. 19.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.438 here. A household earning below the $48,850 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Iron County
A typical Iron County rental runs $664 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Missouri. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $119,300, a typical Iron County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 75% of homes.
| Home costs | Iron County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $664/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $119,300 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Iron 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.
Employment and commuting in Iron County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 9%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Iron County. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Iron County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.4% | +3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.9% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.3% | -3.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Iron County
St. Francois County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Wayne County, is 38 miles off. Income ranges from $45,028 in Reynolds County to $66,339 in Ste. Genevieve County; 4 of these neighbors top Iron County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | - | $48,850 | $664/mo | 75% |
| St. Francois County, MO | 18 mi | $57,477 | $794/mo | 68% |
| Madison County, MO | 22 mi | $54,434 | $808/mo | 74% |
| Reynolds County, MO | 23 mi | $45,028 | $655/mo | 80% |
| Washington County, MO | 24 mi | $56,043 | $684/mo | 78% |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 34 mi | $66,339 | $780/mo | 83% |
| Wayne County, MO | 38 mi | $47,226 | $665/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Iron County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Iron County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 4,342 people, so roughly 54% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $48,750 at the median in Arcadia, $41,250 in Viburnum. Median rent ranges from $346 in Arcadia to $738 in Ironton. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironton | city | 1,692 | $46,750 | $738 | 4 mi |
| Viburnum | city | 803 | $41,250 | $514 | 24 mi |
| Pilot Knob | city | 653 | $44,500 | $660 | 3 mi |
| Arcadia | city | 586 | $48,750 | $346 | 5 mi |
| Annapolis | city | 427 | $28,750 | $614 | 18 mi |
| Des Arc | village | 181 | $80,938 | $432 | 24 mi |
What a median Iron County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Iron County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,071 before taxes
- Less median rent of $664, which is 16% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $964 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Iron County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Iron County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Iron County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 11% of Iron County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Iron County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.8%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Residents | Iron County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Iron County
The Missouri Division of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Missouri license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Iron County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Missouri borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Iron County?
$48,850 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 102nd of 115 in the state.
How much is rent in Iron County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $664 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Iron County?
By population: Ironton, Viburnum, Pilot Knob, Arcadia, Annapolis. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Iron County or elsewhere in Missouri, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Iron County?
Start with the Missouri Division of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.