1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Platte County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $96,227. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Platte County, MO: the basics
- How much Platte County households make
- The Platte County job picture
- What it costs to live in Platte County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Platte County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Platte County
- What the numbers mean for Platte County borrowers
- Who lives in Platte County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Platte County
- Checklist for Platte County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Platte County, MO: the basics
Platte County is home to about 110,371 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 11th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Packed into 420 square miles, that is close to 263 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 17 places in the county (16 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Parkville, with about 8,366 residents, or 8% of the county.
How much Platte County households make
At $96,227, the typical Platte County household income is 47% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Platte County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.8% | -8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.2% | -5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.2% | +7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.7% | +7.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Platte County households make $100,000 or more, and 15% make less than $35,000. 7.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). A household earning below the $96,227 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Platte County job picture
The biggest employer of Platte County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Platte County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 19% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.0% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Sector | Platte County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | -2.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Platte County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,334 in Platte County versus $1,033 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $345,100, about 3.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 67%. Median construction year: 1992.
| Home costs | Platte County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,334/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $345,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 11% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Platte County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 24% of Platte County residents live in one of the 17. Parkville has the highest median household income on the list ($171,271) and Ferrelview the lowest ($45,938), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $642 in Edgerton to $1,809 in Platte Woods. Live in one of these Platte County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkville | city | 8,366 | $171,271 | $1,162 | 12 mi |
| Platte City | city | 4,824 | $71,498 | $1,226 | 1 mi |
| Riverside | city | 4,276 | $52,006 | $959 | 16 mi |
| Weatherby Lake | city | 2,401 | $152,500 | $1,741 | 11 mi |
| Weston | city | 1,922 | $88,750 | $1,000 | 7 mi |
| Lake Waukomis | city | 1,170 | $128,702 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Ferrelview | village | 752 | $45,938 | $893 | 7 mi |
| Platte Woods | city | 532 | $131,458 | $1,809 | 12 mi |
| Edgerton | city | 518 | $78,393 | $642 | 11 mi |
| Camden Point | city | 401 | $76,250 | $990 | 5 mi |
| Northmoor | city | 371 | $82,500 | $1,227 | 16 mi |
| Farley | village | 309 | $124,375 | $942 | 7 mi |
| Tracy | city | 309 | $75,938 | $737 | 2 mi |
| Houston Lake | city | 271 | $106,875 | $938 | 15 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Platte County's, from 18 to 31 miles away. Income ranges from $61,112 in Atchison County to $89,218 in Leavenworth County; none of these neighbors top Platte County's median. Some neighbors are in Kansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Platte County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platte County | - | $96,227 | $1,334/mo | 67% |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 18 mi | $63,631 | $1,122/mo | 62% |
| Clay County, MO | 19 mi | $88,468 | $1,243/mo | 69% |
| Buchanan County, MO | 20 mi | $62,158 | $902/mo | 66% |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 20 mi | $89,218 | $1,219/mo | 69% |
| Clinton County, MO | 25 mi | $70,627 | $1,008/mo | 76% |
| Atchison County, KS | 31 mi | $61,112 | $765/mo | 72% |
Room for a loan payment in Platte County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Platte County's medians:
- $8,019 a month: gross income for a household at the Platte County median
- Less median rent of $1,334, which is 17% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,473 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,275 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Platte County's.
What the numbers mean for Platte County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Platte County borrowers.
- Consolidation math. With 48% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Who lives in Platte County, in numbers
Degree holders: 47% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.1%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| People and households | Platte County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 46.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.3% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.2% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Platte County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Lender oversight for Platte County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Platte County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Platte County applicants
Steps that save money for Platte County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- 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 is the median household income in Platte County?
$96,227 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 2nd of 115 in the state.
How much is rent in Platte County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,334 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Platte County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Parkville, Platte City, Riverside, Weatherby Lake, Weston and 12 more.
Can Platte County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Missouri county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Platte County residents?
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Missouri; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.