1st Advantage MortgageThe median Saline County household earns $57,931, and 16% 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
- Saline County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Saline County
- Income in Saline County compared with Missouri
- Housing costs in Saline County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Saline County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Saline County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Saline County
- A Saline County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Saline County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- More guides for Saline County
- Frequently asked questions
Saline County by the numbers
With an estimated 23,231 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Saline County ranks 48th of 115 in Missouri for population. Land area is 756 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (11 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Marshall, with about 13,739 residents, or 59% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Saline County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Saline County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 20% locally and 11% for Missouri. The survey's unemployment rate for Saline County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Saline County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.7% | +8.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.9% | +4.3 pts |
| Public administration | 5.8% | +1.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Saline County compared with Missouri
Half of Saline County households take in less than $57,931 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Missouri median of $70,702. In the state ranking that is 67th of 115.
| Yearly household income | Saline County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -5.8 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 16.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). A household earning below the $57,931 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Saline County
A typical Saline County rental runs $739 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. Home values center on $150,500, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Housing | Saline County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $739/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $150,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.2% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 11% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Saline County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 78% of Saline County residents live in one of the 11. Marshall has the highest median household income on the list ($54,437) and Slater the lowest ($39,479), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $545 in Slater to $761 in Marshall. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | city | 13,739 | $54,437 | $761 | 1 mi |
| Slater | city | 2,066 | $39,479 | $545 | 10 mi |
| Sweet Springs | city | 1,268 | $46,780 | $632 | 16 mi |
| Gilliam | city | 324 | $39,728 | $588 | 13 mi |
| Blackburn | city | 240 | $82,500 | $716 | 15 mi |
| Malta Bend | town | 211 | $46,875 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Nelson | city | 124 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Miami | city | 71 | $46,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Arrow Rock | town | 65 | $35,469 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Mount Leonard | town | 52 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Grand Pass | village | 48 | $21,406 | n/a | 14 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Carroll County at 26 miles out to Lafayette County at 32. Lafayette County leads the group on income ($80,612), Pettis County trails ($60,430), and Saline County out-earns 0 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | - | $57,931 | $739/mo | 70% |
| Carroll County, MO | 26 mi | $62,154 | $822/mo | 72% |
| Howard County, MO | 27 mi | $65,938 | $832/mo | 79% |
| Pettis County, MO | 29 mi | $60,430 | $885/mo | 69% |
| Cooper County, MO | 29 mi | $70,625 | $782/mo | 76% |
| Chariton County, MO | 29 mi | $71,520 | $567/mo | 83% |
| Lafayette County, MO | 32 mi | $80,612 | $928/mo | 76% |
Saline County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.1%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Residents | Saline County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Saline County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Saline County
Where the Saline County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in Saline County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Saline County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Saline County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $57,931 a year is $4,828 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $739, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,192 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Saline County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Saline County applicants
A short checklist for Saline County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
Consumer lenders serving Saline County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is 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 Saline County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saline County a high-income county?
Its $57,931 median ranks 67th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Saline County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $739 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Saline County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Marshall, Slater, Sweet Springs, Gilliam, Blackburn.
Does living in Saline 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 Saline County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Saline County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.