1st Advantage MortgageIn Lewis County, Missouri, the typical household earns $59,934 a year and the typical rent is $644. 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
- Lewis County at a glance
- Housing costs in Lewis County
- Income in Lewis County compared with Missouri
- The Lewis County job picture
- Lewis County towns compared
- The counties around Lewis County
- Room for a loan payment in Lewis County
- Borrowing situations common in Lewis County
- Who lives in Lewis County, in numbers
- Four steps for Lewis County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Lewis County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lewis County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lewis County's population at 9,924; only 85 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 505 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 20 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 7 Census places inside Lewis County, Canton leads by population with about 2,752; 6 of the 7 are incorporated. Because Lewis County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Lewis County
A typical Lewis County rental runs $644 a month including utilities, which is 38% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,200, about 2.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Measure | Lewis County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $644/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,200 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 5.2% | n/a |
Because most Lewis 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.
Income in Lewis County compared with Missouri
The median household income in Lewis County is $59,934; statewide it is $70,702, so Lewis County runs 15% below Missouri as a whole.
| Household income | Lewis County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -3.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Lewis County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.7%, the same as the state's 12.6%. A household earning below the $59,934 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Lewis County job picture
The biggest employer of Lewis County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lewis County averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lewis County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Lewis County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Lewis County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $58,456 at the median in La Grange, $36,688 in La Belle. Median rent ranges from $400 in La Belle to $917 in Ewing. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | city | 2,752 | $55,357 | $563 | 11 mi |
| La Grange | city | 1,033 | $58,456 | $641 | 12 mi |
| La Belle | city | 775 | $36,688 | $400 | 10 mi |
| Ewing | city | 542 | $57,083 | $917 | 5 mi |
| Lewistown | town | 343 | $45,833 | $675 | 4 mi |
| Monticello | village | 233 | $93,125 | $1,050 | 3 mi |
| Williamstown | CDP | 23 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
The counties around Lewis County
Distances run center to center, from Marion County at 20 miles out to Scotland County at 33. Income ranges from $51,594 in Shelby County to $68,913 in Scotland County; 3 of these neighbors top Lewis County's median. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lewis County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | - | $59,934 | $644/mo | 76% |
| Marion County, MO | 20 mi | $62,903 | $808/mo | 69% |
| Clark County, MO | 22 mi | $51,781 | $612/mo | 78% |
| Knox County, MO | 22 mi | $57,788 | $666/mo | 85% |
| Shelby County, MO | 28 mi | $51,594 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Adams County, IL | 29 mi | $66,220 | $828/mo | 72% |
| Scotland County, MO | 33 mi | $68,913 | $511/mo | 82% |
Room for a loan payment in Lewis County
Lewis County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Lewis County: $4,994
- Housing at the median rent of $644 uses 13%
- Under a 43% cap, $2,148 total minus rent leaves $1,504
Two-income households and single earners in Lewis County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Lewis County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lewis County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Lewis County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Who lives in Lewis County, in numbers
17% of Lewis County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lewis County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lewis County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Four steps for Lewis County borrowers
A short checklist for Lewis County borrowers:
- Price the Lewis 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.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Lewis County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lewis County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lewis County household make?
About $59,934 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Missouri median.
Is Lewis County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $644 against $1,033 statewide, and 32% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Lewis County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Lewis 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 Lewis County?
By population: Canton, La Grange, La Belle, Ewing, Lewistown. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Lewis 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.