1st Advantage MortgageMadison County households have a median income of $54,434 and median rent of $808 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Madison County at a glance
- Jobs and commutes in Madison County
- Paychecks and income spread in Madison County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Madison County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Madison County
- Counties near Madison County
- A Madison County household budget, worked through
- Madison County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Madison County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Checklist for Madison County applicants
- More guides for Madison County
- Frequently asked questions
Madison County at a glance
With an estimated 12,729 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Madison County ranks 74th of 115 in Missouri for population. Spread over 494 square miles, that works out to roughly 25.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Madison County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (4 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Fredericktown, with about 4,507 residents, or 35% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Madison County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Madison County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 11% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 8.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Madison County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Madison County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Madison County
At $54,434, the typical Madison County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 82nd among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Madison County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.2% | +7.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -4.3 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 13.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.460 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Madison County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Madison County
Renters in Madison County pay a median of $808 a month, 22% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 41% of Madison County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $159,000, about 2.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Median construction year: 1977.
| Cost | Madison County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $808/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,000 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.0% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Madison 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Madison County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 47% of Madison County residents live in one of the 6. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericktown | city | 4,507 | $49,375 | $846 | 6 mi |
| Junction City | village | 372 | $35,682 | $583 | 7 mi |
| Mine La Motte | CDP | 370 | $65,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Cobalt | village | 364 | $34,750 | $834 | 6 mi |
| Marquand | city | 187 | $45,268 | $693 | 10 mi |
| Cherokee Pass | CDP | 121 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
Counties near Madison County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 34 miles). Ste. Genevieve County leads the group on income ($66,339), Wayne County trails ($47,226), and Madison County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | - | $54,434 | $808/mo | 74% |
| Bollinger County, MO | 21 mi | $63,814 | $694/mo | 82% |
| Iron County, MO | 22 mi | $48,850 | $664/mo | 75% |
| St. Francois County, MO | 24 mi | $57,477 | $794/mo | 68% |
| Wayne County, MO | 26 mi | $47,226 | $665/mo | 75% |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 30 mi | $66,339 | $780/mo | 83% |
| Perry County, MO | 34 mi | $62,981 | $923/mo | 77% |
A Madison County household budget, worked through
Here is the Madison County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $54,434 a year is $4,536 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $808, takes 18% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,006 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Madison County's.
Madison County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Measure | Madison County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Madison County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
What the numbers mean for Madison County borrowers
Based on the Madison County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 11% of Madison County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Consolidating cards in Madison County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
Madison County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Madison County applicants
Steps that save money for Madison County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Madison County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Madison County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Madison County a high-income county?
Its $54,434 median ranks 82nd of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Madison County?
$808 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Should Madison County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Madison County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Fredericktown?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Madison County, such as Junction City, Mine La Motte, Cobalt.
Are Madison 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.