1st Advantage MortgageThe median Laclede County household earns $53,282, and 18% 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
- A quick profile of Laclede County
- Jobs and commutes in Laclede County
- Income in Laclede County compared with Missouri
- Rent, home values and ownership in Laclede County
- Places inside Laclede County
- Laclede County next to its neighbors
- A Laclede County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Laclede County
- Laclede County households compared
- Checklist for Laclede County applicants
- Lender oversight for Laclede County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Laclede County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Laclede County's population at 36,390; only 32 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 765 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 48 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Laclede County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Lebanon is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 15,270 people (42% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Laclede County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Laclede County residents work in manufacturing and 22% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Laclede County. About 78% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Laclede County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.4% | +15.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.3% | -5.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Laclede County compared with Missouri
Laclede County households have a median income of $53,282 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 87th of 115 in Missouri.
| Household income | Laclede County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.6% | +7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.2% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.8% | -7.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -6.3 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 20% clear $100,000. 18.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.456 here. None of these numbers decides a Laclede County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Laclede County
A typical Laclede County rental runs $809 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $168,400, a typical Laclede County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Laclede County households own their home and 32% rent. Median construction year: 1984.
| Housing | Laclede County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $809/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,400 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
Places inside Laclede County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 45% of Laclede County residents live in one of the 5. No Laclede County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | city | 15,270 | $48,359 | $809 | 4 mi |
| Conway | city | 732 | $34,519 | $826 | 17 mi |
| Stoutland | city | 243 | $42,083 | $950 | 11 mi |
| Phillipsburg | village | 164 | n/a | $782 | 13 mi |
| Evergreen | village | 88 | $46,917 | n/a | 8 mi |
Laclede County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Dallas County at 24 miles out to Miller County at 40. Webster County leads the group on income ($71,155), Wright County trails ($47,909), and Laclede County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laclede County | - | $53,282 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Dallas County, MO | 24 mi | $53,464 | $642/mo | 76% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 24 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Camden County, MO | 27 mi | $66,387 | $876/mo | 82% |
| Wright County, MO | 28 mi | $47,909 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Webster County, MO | 30 mi | $71,155 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Miller County, MO | 40 mi | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
A Laclede County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Laclede County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Laclede County: $4,440
- Median rent: $809, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $789 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $809, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Laclede County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Laclede County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 18% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Laclede County households compared
16% of Laclede County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Laclede County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Checklist for Laclede County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Laclede County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Missouri borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Laclede County
Consumer lenders serving Laclede 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. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Laclede County earn?
The median is $53,282; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Laclede County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $809 against $1,033 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Laclede County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lebanon, Conway, Stoutland, Phillipsburg, Evergreen.
Will a Laclede County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Laclede County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.