1st Advantage MortgageThe median Morgan County household earns $53,412, and 18% 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
- Who lives in Morgan County
- Household income in Morgan County
- How Morgan County residents earn a living
- Morgan County housing compared with Missouri
- Towns and communities in Morgan County
- How Morgan County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Morgan County's medians
- More Morgan County figures
- Reading the Morgan County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Morgan County applicants
- Missouri rules that apply in Morgan County
- More guides for Morgan County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Morgan County
Roughly 21,717 residents live in Morgan County, Missouri, 52nd by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 598 square miles, that works out to roughly 36.3 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Morgan County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Morgan County, Versailles leads by population with about 2,610; 5 of the 5 are incorporated.
Household income in Morgan County
At $53,412, the typical Morgan County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 86th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Morgan County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.5% | +10.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.8% | -8.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Morgan County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.3% of Morgan County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. For a borrower in Morgan 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.
How Morgan County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Morgan County residents work in education and health care and 12% in construction. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 2% for Missouri. The survey's unemployment rate for Morgan County averages 2.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Morgan County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -6.0 pts |
| Construction | 12.1% | +5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +7.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Morgan County housing compared with Missouri
A typical Morgan County rental runs $721 a month including utilities, which is 30% below Missouri. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $194,400, a typical Morgan County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 80% of Morgan County households own their home and 20% rent.
| Housing | Morgan County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $721/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,400 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 43% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Morgan County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Towns and communities in Morgan County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Morgan County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 4,009 residents, leaving about 82% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Morgan County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versailles | city | 2,610 | $33,586 | $474 | 2 mi |
| Stover | city | 977 | $48,438 | $740 | 6 mi |
| Syracuse | city | 177 | n/a | $920 | 17 mi |
| Barnett | city | 129 | $36,750 | $1,250 | 11 mi |
| Gravois Mills | town | 116 | $51,563 | $680 | 9 mi |
How Morgan County compares with nearby counties
Moniteau County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Pettis County, is 31 miles off. Income ranges from $52,567 in Benton County to $70,625 in Cooper County; 5 of these neighbors top Morgan County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | - | $53,412 | $721/mo | 80% |
| Moniteau County, MO | 22 mi | $65,715 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Benton County, MO | 24 mi | $52,567 | $773/mo | 84% |
| Camden County, MO | 28 mi | $66,387 | $876/mo | 82% |
| Miller County, MO | 28 mi | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
| Cooper County, MO | 30 mi | $70,625 | $782/mo | 76% |
| Pettis County, MO | 31 mi | $60,430 | $885/mo | 69% |
Debt-to-income at Morgan County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Morgan County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,451 before taxes
- Less median rent of $721, which is 16% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,193 a month
If your rent is above $721, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Morgan County figures
17% of Morgan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 24.0%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Measure | Morgan County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.2% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 24.0% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Morgan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
Reading the Morgan County data as a borrower
What the Morgan County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 24% of Morgan County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Morgan County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 16% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Morgan County's median age is 45.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Checklist for Morgan County applicants
Quick steps for Morgan County:
- Price the Morgan County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Missouri rules that apply in Morgan County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Morgan County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Morgan County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morgan County a high-income county?
Its $53,412 median ranks 86th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Morgan County rent compare with Missouri?
$721 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 30% below.
What are the biggest places in Morgan County?
By population: Versailles, Stover, Syracuse, Barnett, Gravois Mills. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Morgan County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Morgan County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.