1st Advantage MortgageThe median Macon County household earns $62,357, 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
- Macon County by the numbers
- How Macon County residents earn a living
- What Macon County households earn
- What it costs to live in Macon County
- Macon County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Macon County
- Budget math at the Macon County median
- More Macon County figures
- What the numbers mean for Macon County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Macon County residents
- More guides for Macon County
- Frequently asked questions
Macon County by the numbers
Roughly 15,163 residents live in Macon County, Missouri, 67th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. It covers 801 square miles of land, or about 19 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Macon County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Macon County, Macon leads by population with about 5,466; 9 of the 10 are incorporated.
How Macon County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Macon County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 5% locally and 2% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.8% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Macon County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +2.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Macon County households earn
The median household income in Macon County is $62,357; statewide it is $70,702, so Macon County runs 12% below Missouri as a whole.
| Household income | Macon County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.8% | +3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.7% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -6.1 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.5%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.395 (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 Macon County
Renters in Macon County pay a median of $672 a month, 35% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 44% of Macon County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $149,100, or 2.4 years of median income. 77% of Macon County households own their home and 23% rent. Median construction year: 1972.
| Home costs | Macon County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $672/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $149,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% | 5.2% | 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).
Macon County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Adair County at 25 miles out to Knox County at 31. Chariton County leads the group on income ($71,520), Shelby County trails ($51,594), and Macon County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County | - | $62,357 | $672/mo | 77% |
| Adair County, MO | 25 mi | $61,536 | $772/mo | 61% |
| Shelby County, MO | 25 mi | $51,594 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Randolph County, MO | 27 mi | $53,033 | $760/mo | 71% |
| Linn County, MO | 29 mi | $61,635 | $620/mo | 79% |
| Chariton County, MO | 30 mi | $71,520 | $567/mo | 83% |
| Knox County, MO | 31 mi | $57,788 | $666/mo | 85% |
Towns and communities in Macon County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 56% of Macon County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $61,642 at the median in Macon, $47,240 in Bevier. Median rent ranges from $334 in La Plata to $680 in Macon. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon | city | 5,466 | $61,642 | $680 | 8 mi |
| La Plata | city | 1,351 | $50,000 | $334 | 14 mi |
| Bevier | city | 657 | $47,240 | $675 | 5 mi |
| Atlanta | city | 499 | $68,000 | $680 | 6 mi |
| Callao | city | 263 | $39,063 | n/a | 6 mi |
| New Cambria | city | 137 | $65,417 | $583 | 11 mi |
| Ethel | town | 65 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Excello | CDP | 58 | $47,656 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Elmer | city | 24 | $37,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
| South Gifford | village | 15 | $11,250 | n/a | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Macon County median
Here is the Macon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,196 a month: gross income for a household at the Macon County median
- Rent at the median, $672, takes 13% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,199 a month
If your rent is above $672, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Macon County figures
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.5%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Indicator | Macon County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Macon County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
What the numbers mean for Macon County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Macon County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 11% of Macon County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Macon County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Macon County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Macon County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Macon County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Macon County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Macon County earn?
The median is $62,357; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Macon County?
$672 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
Should Macon County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Macon 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 Macon County?
By population: Macon, La Plata, Bevier, Atlanta, Callao. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Macon County or elsewhere in Missouri, the same rules apply.