1st Advantage MortgageIn Pulaski County, Missouri, the typical household earns $64,466 a year and the typical rent is $1,112. 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
- Getting oriented in Pulaski County
- Jobs and commutes in Pulaski County
- What Pulaski County households earn
- Renting and owning in Pulaski County
- Pulaski County next to its neighbors
- Pulaski County towns compared
- More Pulaski County figures
- Reading the Pulaski County data as a borrower
- A Pulaski County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Pulaski County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Pulaski County
Pulaski County is home to about 53,894 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 22nd most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Land area is 547 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 99 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pulaski County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 6 Census places inside Pulaski County, Fort Leonard Wood leads by population with about 15,432; 5 of the 6 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Pulaski County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 16%. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward public administration (16% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Pulaski County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). About 62% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Pulaski County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.1% | -3.2 pts |
| Public administration | 16.0% | +11.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Pulaski County households earn
At $64,466, the typical Pulaski County household income is 2% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 34 Missouri counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Pulaski County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.3% | +6.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -4.5 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.7% of Pulaski County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.409 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 Pulaski County median.
Renting and owning in Pulaski County
A typical Pulaski County rental runs $1,112 a month including utilities, which is 8% above Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $189,800, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 61%.
| Housing | Pulaski County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,112/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 11% | n/a |
Pulaski County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Pulaski County's, from 23 to 38 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Pulaski County; Camden County is highest at $66,387 and Texas County lowest at $50,036.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | - | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Phelps County, MO | 23 mi | $58,396 | $798/mo | 62% |
| Laclede County, MO | 24 mi | $53,282 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Maries County, MO | 28 mi | $59,455 | $590/mo | 78% |
| Miller County, MO | 30 mi | $56,736 | $763/mo | 74% |
| Camden County, MO | 33 mi | $66,387 | $876/mo | 82% |
| Texas County, MO | 38 mi | $50,036 | $665/mo | 77% |
Pulaski County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Pulaski County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 30,724 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,268 in Richland to $67,772 in Fort Leonard Wood. No Pulaski County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Leonard Wood | CDP | 15,432 | $67,772 | $1,250 | 6 mi |
| Waynesville | city | 5,442 | $56,836 | $1,152 | 1 mi |
| St. Robert | city | 5,356 | $62,641 | $1,087 | 3 mi |
| Richland | city | 2,136 | $34,268 | $683 | 11 mi |
| Dixon | city | 1,334 | $49,904 | $644 | 13 mi |
| Crocker | city | 1,024 | $58,207 | $546 | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
More Pulaski County figures
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Pulaski County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.8% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pulaski County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Reading the Pulaski County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Pulaski County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Consolidating cards in Pulaski County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Pulaski County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pulaski County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $64,466 a year is $5,372 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,112 uses 21%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,934 total minus rent leaves $822
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pulaski County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Pulaski County
Consumer lenders serving Pulaski County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Pulaski County earn?
The median is $64,466; 27% 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 Pulaski County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,112 a month; 34% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Pulaski County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, St. Robert, Richland, Dixon.
Does living in Pulaski 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 Pulaski County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Pulaski 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.