1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Miller County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $56,736. 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
- Miller County, MO: the basics
- How much Miller County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Miller County
- Miller County housing compared with Missouri
- Miller County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Miller County
- What a median Miller County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Miller County
- Miller County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Miller County borrowers
- Missouri rules that apply in Miller County
- More guides for Miller County
- Frequently asked questions
Miller County, MO: the basics
Roughly 25,269 residents live in Miller County, Missouri, 42nd by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. It covers 593 square miles of land, or about 43 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Eldon is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 4,556 people (18% of the county total).
How much Miller County households make
Miller County households have a median income of $56,736 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 73rd of 115 in Missouri.
| Households earning | Miller County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.6% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.6% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.2 pts |
About 32% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. 14.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). None of these numbers decides a Miller County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Miller County
The biggest employer of Miller County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 11% locally and 7% for Missouri. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Miller County. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 5.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Miller County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 11.2% | +4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.4% | +4.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Miller County housing compared with Missouri
A typical Miller County rental runs $763 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 30% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,600, about 3.4 times the median household income. 74% of Miller County households own their home and 26% rent. The median year built is 1985.
| Miller County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $763/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $192,600 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Miller 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.
Miller County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 21 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Miller County; Cole County is highest at $74,876 and Morgan County lowest at $53,412.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller County | - | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
| Cole County, MO | 21 mi | $74,876 | $834/mo | 68% |
| Camden County, MO | 22 mi | $66,387 | $876/mo | 82% |
| Maries County, MO | 28 mi | $59,455 | $590/mo | 78% |
| Morgan County, MO | 28 mi | $53,412 | $721/mo | 80% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 30 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Moniteau County, MO | 30 mi | $65,715 | $735/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Miller County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Miller County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 8,795 people, so roughly 65% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,684 in Eldon to $100,313 in St. Elizabeth. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eldon | city | 4,556 | $41,684 | $822 | 12 mi |
| Lake Ozark | city | 2,335 | $74,176 | $1,304 | 11 mi |
| Iberia | city | 661 | $47,438 | $638 | 11 mi |
| St. Elizabeth | village | 587 | $100,313 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Aurora Springs | CDP | 230 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Olean | town | 168 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Tuscumbia | town | 142 | $41,250 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Brumley | town | 72 | $33,438 | $705 | 9 mi |
| Bagnell | town | 44 | $15,000 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Lakeside | city | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
What a median Miller County budget can carry
Miller County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $56,736 a year is $4,728 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $763, which is 16% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $939 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,270 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Miller County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Miller County
Where the Miller County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 11% of Miller 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).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Miller County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. 10.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Miller County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Miller County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
Four steps for Miller County borrowers
Quick steps for Miller County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Missouri rules that apply in Miller County
Consumer lenders serving Miller County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
More guides for Miller County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Miller County earn?
The median is $56,736; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Miller County rent compare with Missouri?
$763 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 26% below.
I own my home in Miller County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Miller County?
By population: Eldon, Lake Ozark, Iberia, St. Elizabeth, Aurora Springs. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does living in Miller 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 Miller County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.