1st Advantage MortgageIn Jackson County, Missouri, the typical household earns $68,577 a year and the typical rent is $1,197. 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
- Who lives in Jackson County
- Paychecks and income spread in Jackson County
- The Jackson County job picture
- Housing costs in Jackson County
- Jackson County towns compared
- How Jackson County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Jackson County budget can carry
- Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Jackson County residents
- More guides for Jackson County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jackson County
With an estimated 719,976 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jackson County ranks 2nd of 115 in Missouri for population. It covers 605 square miles of land, or about 1,191 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 20 Census places inside Jackson County, Kansas City leads by population with about 510,612; 18 of the 20 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Jackson County
Jackson County households have a median income of $68,577 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 24th of 115 in Missouri.
| Band | Jackson County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -0.8 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.1%, 2 points higher than the state's 12.6%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Jackson County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 13% locally and 10% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.1% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Sector | Jackson County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.5% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | -2.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | +0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Jackson County
A typical Jackson County rental runs $1,197 a month including utilities, which is 16% above Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $230,500, a typical Jackson County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 59% of homes. The median home was built in 1970, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Jackson County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,197/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $230,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 11% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Jackson County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 20 Census places in Jackson County, by population. Together all 20 hold about 895,458 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Lake Lotawana has the highest median household income on the list ($165,962) and Grandview the lowest ($53,447), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $986 in Buckner to $2,042 in Lake Lotawana. 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | city | 510,612 | $69,166 | $1,238 | 14 mi |
| Independence | city | 121,740 | $60,339 | $1,109 | 6 mi |
| Lee's Summit | city | 103,656 | $102,531 | $1,422 | 6 mi |
| Blue Springs | city | 59,965 | $88,920 | $1,277 | 4 mi |
| Raytown | city | 29,445 | $68,840 | $1,218 | 6 mi |
| Grandview | city | 26,527 | $53,447 | $1,035 | 13 mi |
| Grain Valley | city | 16,271 | $89,649 | $1,398 | 7 mi |
| Oak Grove | city | 8,538 | $75,102 | $1,044 | 12 mi |
| Greenwood | city | 6,013 | $107,250 | $1,809 | 11 mi |
| Sugar Creek | city | 3,249 | $62,165 | $1,155 | 10 mi |
| Buckner | city | 2,914 | $87,350 | $986 | 12 mi |
| Lake Lotawana | city | 2,442 | $165,962 | $2,042 | 8 mi |
| Lone Jack | city | 1,412 | $121,389 | $1,203 | 13 mi |
| Blue Summit | CDP | 1,156 | $58,813 | $1,149 | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How Jackson County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Clay County at 22 miles out to Lafayette County at 29. Johnson County leads the group on income ($109,208), Wyandotte County trails ($63,631), and Jackson County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Kansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $68,577 | $1,197/mo | 59% |
| Clay County, MO | 22 mi | $88,468 | $1,243/mo | 69% |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 24 mi | $63,631 | $1,122/mo | 62% |
| Cass County, MO | 25 mi | $87,535 | $1,205/mo | 76% |
| Johnson County, KS | 27 mi | $109,208 | $1,434/mo | 69% |
| Ray County, MO | 28 mi | $74,573 | $782/mo | 77% |
| Lafayette County, MO | 29 mi | $80,612 | $928/mo | 76% |
What a median Jackson County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jackson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Jackson County: $5,715
- Median rent: $1,197, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $860 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
34% of Jackson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Residents | Jackson County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.0% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jackson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Jackson County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Jackson County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jackson County:
- Price the Jackson 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.
- Ask a Jackson County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Jackson County residents
Consumer lenders serving Jackson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
More guides for Jackson County
City guides inside Jackson County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Jackson County household make?
About $68,577 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Missouri median.
How much is rent in Jackson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,197 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Jackson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Raytown and 15 more.
Is the fit check different in Jackson County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Jackson County check a lender's license?
With the Missouri Division of Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.