1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lincoln County household earns $89,278, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lincoln County
- How Lincoln County residents earn a living
- How much Lincoln County households make
- Lincoln County housing compared with Missouri
- How Lincoln County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Lincoln County
- Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Lincoln County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lincoln County
Roughly 63,057 residents live in Lincoln County, Missouri, 18th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 627 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 101 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Troy is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 13,947 people (22% of the county total).
How Lincoln County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Lincoln County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by construction (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 14% locally and 7% for Missouri. The survey's unemployment rate for Lincoln County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Lincoln County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -5.5 pts |
| Construction | 13.7% | +6.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lincoln County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Lincoln County households make
Lincoln County households have a median income of $89,278 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 115 in Missouri.
| Household income | Lincoln County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.4% | -5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.4% | +9.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.2% | -0.5 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 43% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 10.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.393 here. None of these numbers decides a Lincoln County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Lincoln County housing compared with Missouri
A typical Lincoln County rental runs $961 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Missouri. By the Census definition, 37% of Lincoln County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $244,300, a typical Lincoln County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 79% of Lincoln County households own their home and 21% rent.
| Housing | Lincoln County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $961/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $244,300 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.0% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 11% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Lincoln County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Calhoun County at 17 miles out to Jersey County at 32. St. Charles County leads the group on income ($104,692), Pike County trails ($54,989), and Lincoln County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $89,278 | $961/mo | 79% |
| Calhoun County, IL | 17 mi | $93,203 | $583/mo | 89% |
| Pike County, MO | 22 mi | $54,989 | $778/mo | 73% |
| Warren County, MO | 23 mi | $81,209 | $995/mo | 80% |
| St. Charles County, MO | 25 mi | $104,692 | $1,370/mo | 81% |
| Montgomery County, MO | 28 mi | $65,500 | $788/mo | 73% |
| Jersey County, IL | 32 mi | $80,361 | $846/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up Lincoln County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Lincoln County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 23,406 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Troy has the highest median household income on the list ($79,012) and Elsberry the lowest ($49,760), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Winfield ($744) and steepest in Moscow Mills ($1,107). This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | city | 13,947 | $79,012 | $1,033 | 6 mi |
| Moscow Mills | city | 3,823 | $73,468 | $1,107 | 8 mi |
| Elsberry | city | 1,870 | $49,760 | $865 | 12 mi |
| Winfield | city | 1,745 | $75,766 | $744 | 13 mi |
| Hawk Point | city | 736 | $51,667 | $919 | 11 mi |
| Silex | city | 355 | $56,667 | $695 | 7 mi |
| Chain of Rocks | village | 255 | $150,547 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Old Monroe | city | 236 | $61,250 | $1,225 | 14 mi |
| Fountain N' Lakes | village | 162 | $2,499 | $1,348 | 9 mi |
| Foley | city | 140 | $66,250 | $635 | 12 mi |
| Whiteside | village | 108 | $104,375 | $1,125 | 9 mi |
| Truxton | village | 28 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Cave | town | 1 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.6% |
| 60+ min | 12.4% |
What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
Where the Lincoln County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 27% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lincoln County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of Lincoln County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
Debt-to-income at Lincoln County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lincoln County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Lincoln County: $7,440
- Housing at the median rent of $961 uses 13%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $2,015 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Lincoln County
Consumer lenders serving Lincoln County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lincoln County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lincoln County household make?
About $89,278 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% above the Missouri median.
Is Lincoln County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $961 against $1,033 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Lincoln County?
By population: Troy, Moscow Mills, Elsberry, Winfield, Hawk Point. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Does living in Lincoln County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Lincoln County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lincoln County residents?
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Missouri; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.