1st Advantage MortgageIn St. Francois County, Missouri, the typical household earns $57,477 a year and the typical rent is $794. 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
- Who lives in St. Francois County
- What it costs to live in St. Francois County
- What St. Francois County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in St. Francois County
- St. Francois County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- St. Francois County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for St. Francois County
- Debt-to-income at St. Francois County's medians
- A St. Francois County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for St. Francois County
- More guides for St. Francois County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in St. Francois County
With an estimated 66,999 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Francois County ranks 17th of 115 in Missouri for population. Land area is 452 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 148 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, St. Francois County is not part of any metropolitan area. Farmington is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 18,282 people (27% of the county total).
What it costs to live in St. Francois County
A typical St. Francois County rental runs $794 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Missouri. By the Census definition, 40% of St. Francois County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,300, about 2.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. The median year built is 1983.
| Home costs | St. Francois County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $794/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $169,300 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
What St. Francois County households earn
At $57,477, the typical St. Francois County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 71st of 115.
| Households earning | St. Francois County | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of St. Francois County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. Census counts 15.9% of St. Francois County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. For a borrower in St. Francois County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in St. Francois County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed St. Francois County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Construction stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for St. Francois County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). About 80% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | St. Francois County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -3.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
St. Francois County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 14 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of St. Francois County residents live in one of the 14. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $23,125 in Lake Timberline to $86,019 in Terre du Lac. Rent is cheapest in Desloge ($636) and steepest in Lake Timberline ($937). This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington | city | 18,282 | $53,729 | $855 | 3 mi |
| Park Hills | city | 8,678 | $52,563 | $790 | 1 mi |
| Bonne Terre | city | 6,683 | $46,179 | $641 | 9 mi |
| Desloge | city | 4,863 | $60,820 | $636 | 5 mi |
| Terre du Lac | CDP | 2,516 | $86,019 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bismarck | city | 1,508 | $40,250 | $676 | 9 mi |
| Leadwood | city | 1,354 | $44,783 | $896 | 7 mi |
| Leadington | city | 901 | $37,938 | $790 | 2 mi |
| Lake Timberline | CDP | 810 | $23,125 | $937 | 14 mi |
| Iron Mountain Lake | city | 781 | $30,682 | $695 | 12 mi |
| Doe Run | CDP | 775 | $83,065 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Wortham | CDP | 141 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Frankclay | CDP | 91 | $44,861 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Knob Lick | CDP | 41 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to St. Francois County's, from 18 to 36 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Francois County; Monroe County is highest at $102,880 and Iron County lowest at $48,850. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a St. Francois County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francois County | - | $57,477 | $794/mo | 68% |
| Iron County, MO | 18 mi | $48,850 | $664/mo | 75% |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 18 mi | $66,339 | $780/mo | 83% |
| Madison County, MO | 24 mi | $54,434 | $808/mo | 74% |
| Washington County, MO | 25 mi | $56,043 | $684/mo | 78% |
| Jefferson County, MO | 31 mi | $82,851 | $979/mo | 82% |
| Monroe County, IL | 36 mi | $102,880 | $1,042/mo | 85% |
St. Francois County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of St. Francois County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 10.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | St. Francois County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 13.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for St. Francois County
What the St. Francois County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 10% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent St. Francois County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at St. Francois County's medians
Here is the St. Francois County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,790 a month: gross income for a household at the St. Francois County median
- Housing at the median rent of $794 uses 17%
- Under a 35% cap, $1,676 total minus rent leaves $882
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,361 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
A St. Francois County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in St. Francois County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for St. Francois County
Consumer lenders serving St. Francois 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. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for St. Francois County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. Francois County earn?
The median is $57,477; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does St. Francois County rent compare with Missouri?
$794 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 23% below.
Does this page cover Farmington?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in St. Francois County, such as Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Desloge.
Is the fit check different in St. Francois County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a St. Francois County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Missouri it is the Missouri Division of Finance.