1st Advantage MortgagePerry County households have a median income of $62,981 and median rent of $923 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
- Perry County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Perry County
- Household income in Perry County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Perry County
- Perry County towns compared
- The counties around Perry County
- A Perry County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Perry County
- What the numbers mean for Perry County borrowers
- Missouri rules that apply in Perry County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Perry County
- Frequently asked questions
Perry County by the numbers
Roughly 18,976 residents live in Perry County, Missouri, 57th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. It covers 474 square miles of land, or about 40 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 8 Census places inside Perry County, Perryville leads by population with about 8,536; 4 of the 8 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Perry County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 22%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 22% locally and 11% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 84% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Perry County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.9% | +10.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -3.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.0% | +4.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Perry County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Perry County
Half of Perry County households take in less than $62,981 a year and half take in more, 11% below the Missouri median of $70,702. That places it 42nd among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Perry County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Perry County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.9%, 1 point higher than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.455 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Perry County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Perry County
Renters in Perry County pay a median of $923 a month, 11% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. By the Census definition, 56% of Perry County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $188,200, or 3.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Perry County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $923/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $188,200 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Perry 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Perry County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Perry County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 10,385 residents, leaving about 45% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Perry County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perryville | city | 8,536 | $51,897 | $944 | 4 mi |
| Shakertowne | CDP | 569 | $70,208 | $1,021 | 4 mi |
| Altenburg | city | 426 | $66,250 | $817 | 13 mi |
| Brewer | CDP | 413 | $28,692 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Frohna | city | 303 | $62,083 | $692 | 11 mi |
| Longtown | town | 99 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Lithium | CDP | 30 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Biehle | CDP | 9 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Perry County
Six nearby counties, 23 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Perry County; Cape Girardeau County is highest at $68,464 and Jackson County lowest at $48,763. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Perry County resident follows Missouri rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | - | $62,981 | $923/mo | 77% |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 23 mi | $66,339 | $780/mo | 83% |
| Cape Girardeau County, MO | 23 mi | $68,464 | $881/mo | 67% |
| Jackson County, IL | 24 mi | $48,763 | $782/mo | 50% |
| Randolph County, IL | 24 mi | $68,131 | $780/mo | 77% |
| Bollinger County, MO | 30 mi | $63,814 | $694/mo | 82% |
| Madison County, MO | 34 mi | $54,434 | $808/mo | 74% |
A Perry County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Perry County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $62,981 a year is $5,248 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $923, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,334: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Perry County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Perry County
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Perry County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
What the numbers mean for Perry County borrowers
Based on the Perry County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Missouri rules that apply in Perry County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Perry County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Perry County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Perry County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Perry County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Perry County household make?
About $62,981 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 11% below the Missouri median.
How much is rent in Perry County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $923 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Perry County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Perryville, Shakertowne, Altenburg, Brewer, Frohna and 3 more.
Will a Perry County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Perry 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.