1st Advantage MortgageIn St. Clair County, Missouri, the typical household earns $53,043 a year and the typical rent is $622. 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
- St. Clair County at a glance
- What it costs to live in St. Clair County
- How much St. Clair County households make
- Employment and commuting in St. Clair County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Clair County
- How St. Clair County compares with nearby counties
- St. Clair County households compared
- What the numbers mean for St. Clair County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at St. Clair County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Steps before you apply in St. Clair County
- More guides for St. Clair County
- Frequently asked questions
St. Clair County at a glance
With an estimated 9,587 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Clair County ranks 88th of 115 in Missouri for population. It covers 675 square miles of land, or about 14 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Appleton City is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 1,221 people (13% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every St. Clair County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What it costs to live in St. Clair County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $622 in St. Clair County versus $1,033 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. Home values center on $157,100, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 76%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Measure | St. Clair County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $622/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like St. Clair County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much St. Clair County households make
At $53,043, the typical St. Clair County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 88th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Band | St. Clair County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.3% | +9.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.6% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -5.4 pts |
About 33% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.7%, 2 points higher than the state's 12.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the St. Clair County median.
Employment and commuting in St. Clair County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 2% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Top industries | St. Clair County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 11.8% | +5.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.4% | +5.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.5% | +5.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in St. Clair County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in St. Clair County
7 Census places fall mainly inside St. Clair County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 3,111 residents, leaving about 68% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Appleton City has the highest median household income on the list ($49,036) and Lowry City the lowest ($41,250), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $557 in Appleton City to $715 in Lowry City. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton City | city | 1,221 | $49,036 | $557 | 17 mi |
| Osceola | city | 1,042 | $42,582 | $557 | 4 mi |
| Lowry City | city | 618 | $41,250 | $715 | 7 mi |
| Roscoe | village | 101 | $43,611 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Collins | village | 76 | $45,833 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Vista | village | 46 | $48,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Gerster | town | 7 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
How St. Clair County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Cedar County at 22 miles out to Bates County at 34. Income ranges from $39,390 in Hickory County to $60,733 in Bates County; 2 of these neighbors top St. Clair County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | - | $53,043 | $622/mo | 76% |
| Cedar County, MO | 22 mi | $48,181 | $767/mo | 74% |
| Henry County, MO | 24 mi | $57,926 | $768/mo | 75% |
| Hickory County, MO | 26 mi | $39,390 | $648/mo | 82% |
| Benton County, MO | 32 mi | $52,567 | $773/mo | 84% |
| Vernon County, MO | 34 mi | $52,230 | $734/mo | 71% |
| Bates County, MO | 34 mi | $60,733 | $786/mo | 75% |
St. Clair County households compared
15% of St. Clair County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| People and households | St. Clair County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.7% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of St. Clair County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 12.6% |
What the numbers mean for St. Clair County borrowers
Based on the St. Clair County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 20% of St. Clair County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Debt-to-income at St. Clair County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a St. Clair County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, St. Clair County: $4,420
- Housing at the median rent of $622 uses 14%
- At 36%, room after rent is $969 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,279 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in St. Clair County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
No county office licenses personal lenders. For St. Clair County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Steps before you apply in St. Clair County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in St. Clair County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one St. Clair County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for St. Clair County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. Clair County earn?
The median is $53,043; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in St. Clair County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $622 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should St. Clair County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of St. Clair County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small St. Clair County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Appleton City, Osceola, Lowry City, Roscoe, Collins and 2 more.
Can St. Clair 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.