1st Advantage MortgageIn Livingston County, Missouri, the typical household earns $63,627 a year and the typical rent is $768. 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
- Livingston County, MO: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Livingston County
- Household income in Livingston County
- What it costs to live in Livingston County
- How Livingston County compares with nearby counties
- Livingston County towns compared
- A Livingston County household budget, worked through
- Livingston County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Livingston County
- Licensing and complaints for Livingston County
- A Livingston County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Livingston County, MO: the basics
Livingston County is home to about 14,364 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 72nd most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 532 square miles of land, or about 27 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Livingston County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Livingston County, Chillicothe leads by population with about 8,923; 6 of the 8 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Livingston County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (5% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Livingston County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Livingston County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | +0.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Livingston County
At $63,627, the typical Livingston County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Livingston County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -2.7 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.9% of Livingston County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.450 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Livingston County
Renters in Livingston County pay a median of $768 a month, 26% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. 33% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. With a median value of $147,700, a typical Livingston County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 72%.
| Cost | Livingston County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $768/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,700 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Livingston 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.
How Livingston County compares with nearby counties
Grundy County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Chariton County, is 36 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Livingston County; Chariton County is highest at $71,520 and Grundy County lowest at $51,975.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston County | - | $63,627 | $768/mo | 72% |
| Grundy County, MO | 23 mi | $51,975 | $696/mo | 70% |
| Linn County, MO | 24 mi | $61,635 | $620/mo | 79% |
| Caldwell County, MO | 24 mi | $64,806 | $640/mo | 78% |
| Carroll County, MO | 24 mi | $62,154 | $822/mo | 72% |
| Daviess County, MO | 26 mi | $63,984 | $696/mo | 79% |
| Chariton County, MO | 36 mi | $71,520 | $567/mo | 83% |
Livingston County towns compared
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 69% of Livingston County residents live in one of the 8. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chillicothe | city | 8,923 | $54,493 | $782 | 1 mi |
| Utica | village | 211 | $71,563 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Chula | city | 159 | $40,625 | $581 | 11 mi |
| Wheeling | city | 157 | $42,500 | $738 | 9 mi |
| Ludlow | town | 153 | $57,500 | $634 | 12 mi |
| Dawn | CDP | 111 | $55,917 | $518 | 9 mi |
| Mooresville | village | 93 | $57,500 | $1,031 | 9 mi |
| Avalon | CDP | 47 | $56,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
A Livingston County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Livingston County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,302 before taxes
- Median rent: $768, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,353 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Livingston County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. 11.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Livingston County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Livingston County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Livingston County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Livingston County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Licensing and complaints for Livingston County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Livingston County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
A Livingston County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Livingston County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Missouri borrowers.
- Ask a Livingston County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Livingston County earn?
The median is $63,627; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Livingston County?
$768 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Livingston County?
By population: Chillicothe, Utica, Chula, Wheeling, Ludlow. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Livingston County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Livingston 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.