1st Advantage MortgageIn Scotland County, Missouri, the typical household earns $68,913 a year and the typical rent is $511. 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
- Scotland County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Scotland County
- What Scotland County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Scotland County
- Scotland County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Scotland County
- People and households in Scotland County
- Borrowing situations common in Scotland County
- What a median Scotland County budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Scotland County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Scotland County at a glance
Roughly 4,686 residents live in Scotland County, Missouri, 109th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 437 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 11 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Scotland County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Scotland County, Memphis leads by population with about 1,782; 5 of the 5 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Scotland County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Rent, home values and ownership in Scotland County
Renters in Scotland County pay a median of $511 a month, 51% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. Home values center on $158,800, or 2.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1971.
| Home costs | Scotland County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $511/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
What Scotland County households earn
The median household income in Scotland County is $68,913; statewide it is $70,702, so Scotland County runs 3% below Missouri as a whole. In the state ranking that is 23rd of 115.
| Income band | Share in Scotland County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.1% | -3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.5% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.8% | +2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Scotland County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 7.3% of Scotland County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Scotland County
The biggest employer of Scotland County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 0.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Scotland County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.8% | -4.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.8% | +10.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Scotland County towns compared
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Scotland County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 2,019 people, so roughly 57% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | city | 1,782 | $55,125 | $471 | 2 mi |
| Rutledge | town | 112 | $53,750 | n/a | 10 mi |
| South Gorin | town | 64 | $48,984 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Granger | village | 39 | $83,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Arbela | town | 22 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Regional comparison for Scotland County
Schuyler County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Adair County, is 30 miles off. Income ranges from $51,781 in Clark County to $77,194 in Davis County; 1 of these neighbors top Scotland County's median. The list crosses into Iowa, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland County | - | $68,913 | $511/mo | 82% |
| Schuyler County, MO | 20 mi | $61,205 | $382/mo | 80% |
| Knox County, MO | 21 mi | $57,788 | $666/mo | 85% |
| Clark County, MO | 22 mi | $51,781 | $612/mo | 78% |
| Van Buren County, IA | 23 mi | $61,161 | $622/mo | 82% |
| Davis County, IA | 25 mi | $77,194 | $868/mo | 83% |
| Adair County, MO | 30 mi | $61,536 | $772/mo | 61% |
People and households in Scotland County
15% of Scotland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 39.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Scotland County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 25.9% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 39.0% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Scotland County
Based on the Scotland County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Scotland County. For the 39% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
What a median Scotland County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Scotland County's medians:
- Start: $5,743 gross per month ($68,913 / 12)
- 9% goes to median rent ($511)
- $1,556: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,958: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $511, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Missouri borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Scotland County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Scotland County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scotland County a high-income county?
Its $68,913 median ranks 23rd of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Scotland County?
$511 a month at the median, about 9% of median household income.
Should Scotland County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Scotland County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Scotland County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Memphis, Rutledge, South Gorin, Granger, Arbela.
Is the fit check different in Scotland County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.