1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lawrence County household earns $61,215, and 15% 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
- Getting oriented in Lawrence County
- Household income in Lawrence County
- Employment and commuting in Lawrence County
- Housing costs in Lawrence County
- Places inside Lawrence County
- Lawrence County and the counties next door
- Who lives in Lawrence County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
- Debt-to-income at Lawrence County's medians
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- More guides for Lawrence County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Lawrence County
With an estimated 38,593 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lawrence County ranks 30th of 115 in Missouri for population. It covers 612 square miles of land, or about 63 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lawrence County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Monett is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 9,873 people (26% of the county total).
Household income in Lawrence County
At $61,215, the typical Lawrence County household income is 7% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 51 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Lawrence County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.0 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 14.5% of Lawrence County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.409 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Lawrence County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Lawrence County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lawrence County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Lawrence County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.0% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.9% | -2.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | 0.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lawrence County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Lawrence County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $800 in Lawrence County versus $1,033 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. With a median value of $175,100, a typical Lawrence County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes.
| Cost | Lawrence County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $800/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $175,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.7% | 5.2% | n/a |
Because most Lawrence 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.
Places inside Lawrence County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Lawrence County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 27,842 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $56,371 at the median in Miller, $49,390 in Monett. Rent is cheapest in Mount Vernon ($673) and steepest in Miller ($1,036). This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monett | city | 9,873 | $49,390 | $902 | 14 mi |
| Aurora | city | 7,397 | $49,848 | $823 | 11 mi |
| Mount Vernon | city | 4,563 | $53,255 | $673 | 1 mi |
| Marionville | city | 2,785 | $49,631 | $902 | 13 mi |
| Pierce City | city | 1,477 | $51,121 | $776 | 15 mi |
| Miller | city | 769 | $56,371 | $1,036 | 8 mi |
| Verona | town | 477 | $42,417 | $903 | 10 mi |
| Freistatt | village | 249 | $47,917 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Stotts City | city | 178 | $36,563 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Halltown | village | 40 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Hoberg | village | 34 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Chesapeake | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Lawrence County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 23 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Newton County leads the group on income ($66,301), Dade County trails ($53,750), and Lawrence County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $61,215 | $800/mo | 74% |
| Dade County, MO | 23 mi | $53,750 | $683/mo | 77% |
| Barry County, MO | 28 mi | $58,346 | $766/mo | 77% |
| Jasper County, MO | 29 mi | $60,694 | $973/mo | 63% |
| Greene County, MO | 29 mi | $61,479 | $989/mo | 57% |
| Newton County, MO | 31 mi | $66,301 | $817/mo | 77% |
| Stone County, MO | 32 mi | $63,520 | $896/mo | 83% |
Who lives in Lawrence County, in numbers
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 14.0%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Measure | Lawrence County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.0% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
Based on the Lawrence County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Lawrence County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Consolidating cards in Lawrence County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Debt-to-income at Lawrence County's medians
How much room does a median Lawrence County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,101 a month: gross income for a household at the Lawrence County median
- Rent at the median, $800, takes 16% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,036 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,394 a month
If your rent is above $800, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Lawrence County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lawrence County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Lawrence County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lawrence County a high-income county?
Its $61,215 median ranks 52nd of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Lawrence County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $800 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Lawrence County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Lawrence County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Monett, Aurora, Mount Vernon, Marionville, Pierce City and 7 more.
Are Lawrence 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.