1st Advantage MortgageIn Maries County, Missouri, the typical household earns $59,455 a year and the typical rent is $590. 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
- Maries County, MO: the basics
- The Maries County job picture
- Income in Maries County compared with Missouri
- What it costs to live in Maries County
- Regional comparison for Maries County
- Towns and communities in Maries County
- What a median Maries County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Maries County
- Maries County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Maries County borrowers
- Missouri rules that apply in Maries County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Maries County, MO: the basics
Maries County is home to about 8,450 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 96th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Spread over 527 square miles, that works out to roughly 16.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Belle, with about 1,246 residents, or 15% of the county. With so few households sampled, Maries County estimates can move a lot between releases.
The Maries County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Maries County residents work in education and health care and 15% in construction. Construction stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Maries County. About 79% drive to work alone and 35% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Maries County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Construction | 15.1% | +8.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Maries County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Maries County compared with Missouri
Maries County households have a median income of $59,455 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 60th of 115 in Missouri.
| Income band | Share in Maries County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.2% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -3.3 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.5% of Maries County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.418 here. For a borrower in Maries County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Maries County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $590 in Maries County versus $1,033 statewide. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $219,100, a typical Maries County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Housing | Maries County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $590/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $219,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Maries 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.
Regional comparison for Maries County
Six nearby counties, 21 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $56,736 in Miller County to $76,681 in Osage County; 4 of these neighbors top Maries County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maries County | - | $59,455 | $590/mo | 78% |
| Osage County, MO | 21 mi | $76,681 | $639/mo | 79% |
| Phelps County, MO | 22 mi | $58,396 | $798/mo | 62% |
| Miller County, MO | 28 mi | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 28 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Gasconade County, MO | 30 mi | $64,232 | $743/mo | 81% |
| Cole County, MO | 30 mi | $74,876 | $834/mo | 68% |
Towns and communities in Maries County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 24% of Maries County residents live in one of the 3. Live in one of these Maries County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle | city | 1,246 | $55,192 | $524 | 14 mi |
| Vienna | city | 661 | $38,221 | $591 | 2 mi |
| Argyle | town | 117 | $68,125 | n/a | 11 mi |
What a median Maries County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Maries County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,955 before taxes
- Median rent: $590, or 12 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,144 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,640 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Maries County's.
Borrowing situations common in Maries County
Based on the Maries County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 35% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Maries County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Maries County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Maries County residents: age, schooling, coverage
16% of Maries County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.5%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Maries County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 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 | 5.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 20.3% |
| 60+ min | 14.4% |
Four steps for Maries County borrowers
A short checklist for Maries County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Maries County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Missouri rules that apply in Maries County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Maries County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Maries County?
$59,455 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 60th of 115 in the state.
How does Maries County rent compare with Missouri?
$590 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 43% below.
Does this page cover Belle?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Maries County, such as Vienna, Argyle.
Is the fit check different in Maries County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Maries County check a lender's license?
With the Missouri Division of Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.