1st Advantage MortgageIn St. Charles County, Missouri, the typical household earns $104,692 a year and the typical rent is $1,370. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Missouri license first.
On this page
- St. Charles County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in St. Charles County
- Paychecks and income spread in St. Charles County
- Renting and owning in St. Charles County
- St. Charles County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up St. Charles County
- Budget math at the St. Charles County median
- St. Charles County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for St. Charles County
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Before you sign
- More guides for St. Charles County
- Frequently asked questions
St. Charles County by the numbers
St. Charles County is home to about 414,535 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 3rd most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 561 square miles of land, or about 740 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area. O'Fallon is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 93,801 people (23% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in St. Charles County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed St. Charles County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (11% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | St. Charles County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.6% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Paychecks and income spread in St. Charles County
At $104,692, the typical St. Charles County household income is 59% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 1st of 115.
| Income band | Share in St. Charles County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.4% | -12.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.9% | -6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.8% | +11.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.9% | +7.2 pts |
About 11% of households earn under $35,000, while 53% clear $100,000. Census counts 5.2% of St. Charles County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. None of these numbers decides a St. Charles County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in St. Charles County
A typical St. Charles County rental runs $1,370 a month including utilities, which is 33% above Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. With a median value of $320,800, a typical St. Charles County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 81% of homes. Median construction year: 1994.
| St. Charles County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,370/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $320,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 5.2% | n/a |
Because most St. Charles County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
St. Charles County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to St. Charles County's, from 16 to 27 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than St. Charles County; Calhoun County is highest at $93,203 and St. Louis city lowest at $56,160. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Charles County | - | $104,692 | $1,370/mo | 81% |
| St. Louis County, MO | 16 mi | $82,936 | $1,209/mo | 69% |
| Lincoln County, MO | 25 mi | $89,278 | $961/mo | 79% |
| St. Louis city, MO | 25 mi | $56,160 | $997/mo | 45% |
| Warren County, MO | 26 mi | $81,209 | $995/mo | 80% |
| Calhoun County, IL | 26 mi | $93,203 | $583/mo | 89% |
| Jersey County, IL | 27 mi | $80,361 | $846/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up St. Charles County
The table lists the 14 largest of 17 Census places in St. Charles County, by population. Together all 17 hold about 320,709 people, so roughly 23% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $85,937 in St. Charles to $159,022 in St. Paul. 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon | city | 93,801 | $110,443 | $1,443 | 2 mi |
| St. Charles | city | 71,508 | $85,937 | $1,251 | 9 mi |
| St. Peters | city | 59,092 | $91,637 | $1,321 | 4 mi |
| Wentzville | city | 47,061 | $112,394 | $1,345 | 11 mi |
| Lake St. Louis | city | 18,066 | $125,693 | $1,588 | 6 mi |
| Dardenne Prairie | city | 13,503 | $152,500 | $1,444 | 4 mi |
| Cottleville | city | 5,937 | $131,310 | $1,624 | 2 mi |
| Weldon Spring | city | 5,310 | $158,548 | $2,800 | 5 mi |
| St. Paul | city | 3,456 | $159,022 | $975 | 6 mi |
| Josephville | village | 664 | $107,708 | $852 | 7 mi |
| Flint Hill | city | 583 | $130,208 | $1,611 | 12 mi |
| West Alton | city | 467 | $111,500 | $1,375 | 26 mi |
| New Melle | city | 452 | $114,375 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Portage Des Sioux | city | 340 | $62,188 | $800 | 21 mi |
Budget math at the St. Charles County median
Here is the St. Charles County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,724 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,370 uses 16%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,381 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
St. Charles County residents: age, schooling, coverage
43% of St. Charles County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.2%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| People and households | St. Charles County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for St. Charles County
What the St. Charles County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Higher earners. 53% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with St. Charles County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for St. Charles County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Missouri license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for St. Charles County
Guides that cover parts of St. Charles County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. Charles County earn?
The median is $104,692; 53% earn $100,000 or more and 11% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is St. Charles County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,370 against $1,033 statewide, and 42% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in St. Charles County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in St. Charles County?
By population: O'Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters, Wentzville, Lake St. Louis. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Will a St. Charles County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.