1st Advantage MortgagePhelps County households have a median income of $58,396 and median rent of $798 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
- A quick profile of Phelps County
- Income in Phelps County compared with Missouri
- Renting and owning in Phelps County
- How Phelps County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Phelps County
- How Phelps County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Phelps County's medians
- People and households in Phelps County
- Borrowing situations common in Phelps County
- Lender oversight for Phelps County
- Checklist for Phelps County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Phelps County
Phelps County is home to about 45,194 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Land area is 672 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 67 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Rolla, with about 20,287 residents, or 45% of the county.
Income in Phelps County compared with Missouri
Half of Phelps County households take in less than $58,396 a year and half take in more, 17% below the Missouri median of $70,702. In the state ranking that is 64th of 115.
| Household income | Phelps County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.2% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -3.6 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 16.8% of Phelps County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. A household earning below the $58,396 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Phelps County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $798 in Phelps County versus $1,033 statewide. By the Census definition, 50% of Phelps County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,500, about 3.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. The median year built is 1984.
| Measure | Phelps County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $798/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $206,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.7% | 5.2% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Phelps County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Phelps County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 33% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward education and health care (33% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 72% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.1% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Where residents work | Phelps County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.3% | +8.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.1% | +2.0 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.7% | -4.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Phelps County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Phelps County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Phelps County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 25,319 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. St. James has the highest median household income on the list ($53,453) and Doolittle the lowest ($40,417), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Doolittle ($633) and steepest in Rolla ($789). This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolla | city | 20,287 | $46,204 | $789 | 6 mi |
| St. James | city | 3,916 | $53,453 | $695 | 13 mi |
| Doolittle | city | 561 | $40,417 | $633 | 8 mi |
| Newburg | city | 331 | $24,911 | $775 | 7 mi |
| Edgar Springs | city | 224 | $51,771 | n/a | 12 mi |
How Phelps County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Phelps County's, from 22 to 41 miles away. Osage County leads the group on income ($76,681), Texas County trails ($50,036), and Phelps County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phelps County | - | $58,396 | $798/mo | 62% |
| Maries County, MO | 22 mi | $59,455 | $590/mo | 78% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 23 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Dent County, MO | 25 mi | $56,312 | $660/mo | 76% |
| Crawford County, MO | 27 mi | $57,629 | $795/mo | 69% |
| Texas County, MO | 39 mi | $50,036 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Osage County, MO | 41 mi | $76,681 | $639/mo | 79% |
Debt-to-income at Phelps County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Phelps County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Phelps County: $4,866
- Less median rent of $798, which is 16% of it
- $954: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $798, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Phelps County
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 9.1%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Phelps County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Phelps County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Phelps County
Where the Phelps County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Phelps County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Lender oversight for Phelps County
Phelps County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Checklist for Phelps County applicants
Quick steps for Phelps County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Phelps County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Phelps County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Phelps County household make?
About $58,396 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Missouri median.
What do renters pay in Phelps County?
$798 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Phelps County?
By population: Rolla, St. James, Doolittle, Newburg, Edgar Springs. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Phelps County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Phelps 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.