1st Advantage MortgageThe median Moniteau County household earns $65,715, 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
- Getting oriented in Moniteau County
- Household income in Moniteau County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Moniteau County
- Employment and commuting in Moniteau County
- Towns and communities in Moniteau County
- Moniteau County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Moniteau County median
- Reading the Moniteau County data as a borrower
- People and households in Moniteau County
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Moniteau County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Moniteau County's population at 15,262; only 65 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 415 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 37 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Jefferson City, MO metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Moniteau County, California leads by population with about 4,509; 5 of the 7 are incorporated.
Household income in Moniteau County
The median household income in Moniteau County is $65,715; statewide it is $70,702, so Moniteau County runs 7% below Missouri as a whole.
| Households earning | Moniteau County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.1% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.8% | +6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.0 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 10.3% of Moniteau County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.413 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $65,715 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Moniteau County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $735 in Moniteau County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 33% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $181,900, about 2.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Moniteau County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $735/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $181,900 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Moniteau 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.
Employment and commuting in Moniteau County
The biggest employer of Moniteau County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by construction (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 14% locally and 7% for Missouri. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Moniteau County. About 74% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.6% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Where residents work | Moniteau County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -6.2 pts |
| Construction | 13.9% | +7.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 9.9% | +5.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Moniteau County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in Moniteau County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Moniteau County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 8,131 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Moniteau County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | city | 4,509 | $63,864 | $756 | 1 mi |
| Tipton | city | 2,667 | $49,257 | $785 | 11 mi |
| Clarksburg | city | 304 | $41,250 | $715 | 5 mi |
| Jamestown | town | 280 | $55,833 | $713 | 11 mi |
| Fortuna | CDP | 256 | $115,560 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Latham | CDP | 75 | $61,667 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Lupus | town | 40 | $87,656 | n/a | 16 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Moniteau County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Moniteau County's, from 19 to 36 miles away. Income ranges from $53,412 in Morgan County to $74,876 in Cole County; 4 of these neighbors top Moniteau County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moniteau County | - | $65,715 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Cole County, MO | 19 mi | $74,876 | $834/mo | 68% |
| Cooper County, MO | 19 mi | $70,625 | $782/mo | 76% |
| Morgan County, MO | 22 mi | $53,412 | $721/mo | 80% |
| Boone County, MO | 29 mi | $72,758 | $1,088/mo | 58% |
| Miller County, MO | 30 mi | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
| Howard County, MO | 36 mi | $65,938 | $832/mo | 79% |
Budget math at the Moniteau County median
Here is the Moniteau County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $65,715 a year is $5,476 of gross monthly income
- 13% goes to median rent ($735)
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,182 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,464 total minus rent leaves $1,729
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Moniteau County data as a borrower
What the Moniteau County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Moniteau County. For the 19% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Moniteau County borrower sees (free reports).
People and households in Moniteau County
16% of Moniteau County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 18.6%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Measure | Moniteau County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.8% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
The Missouri Division of Finance is the place to verify any lender's Missouri license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Moniteau County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Moniteau County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Moniteau County earn?
The median is $65,715; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Moniteau County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $735 a month; 33% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover California?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Moniteau County, such as Tipton, Clarksburg, Jamestown.
Does living in Moniteau 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 Moniteau County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Moniteau 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.