1st Advantage MortgageThe median Taney County household earns $56,497, 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
- Taney County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Taney County
- How Taney County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Taney County
- The communities that make up Taney County
- Taney County and the counties next door
- A Taney County household budget, worked through
- Taney County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Taney County
- Before you sign
- Missouri rules that apply in Taney County
- More guides for Taney County
- Frequently asked questions
Taney County at a glance
Roughly 56,529 residents live in Taney County, Missouri, 20th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 632 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 89 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Taney County is not part of any metropolitan area. Hollister is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 4,643 people (8% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Taney County
Half of Taney County households take in less than $56,497 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Missouri median of $70,702.
| Household income | Taney County | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.4% | +6.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -3.2 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 15.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). A household earning below the $56,497 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Taney County residents earn a living
Arts, lodging and food service employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (19% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 73% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Taney County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 19.3% | +11.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -5.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.1% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | -0.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Taney County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $926 in Taney County versus $1,033 statewide. By the Census definition, 45% of Taney County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $218,800, a typical Taney County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 67% of homes. The median year built is 1995.
| Housing | Taney County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $926/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $218,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
The communities that make up Taney County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Taney County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 12,025 residents, leaving about 79% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Kissee Mills has the highest median household income on the list ($67,460) and Forsyth the lowest ($45,824), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Kissee Mills ($689) and steepest in Merriam Woods ($987). Live in one of these Taney County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollister | city | 4,643 | $53,507 | $849 | 11 mi |
| Forsyth | city | 2,766 | $45,824 | $706 | 4 mi |
| Merriam Woods | city | 2,047 | $52,250 | $987 | 9 mi |
| Kissee Mills | CDP | 1,081 | $67,460 | $689 | 1 mi |
| Rockaway Beach | city | 760 | $63,646 | $696 | 7 mi |
| Bull Creek | village | 421 | $29,700 | $762 | 10 mi |
| Taneyville | village | 206 | $45,625 | $808 | 6 mi |
| Kirbyville | village | 101 | $41,875 | n/a | 6 mi |
Taney County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 35 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Taney County; Christian County is highest at $83,437 and Ozark County lowest at $44,163. Some neighbors are in Arkansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Taney County resident follows Missouri rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taney County | - | $56,497 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Christian County, MO | 24 mi | $83,437 | $1,058/mo | 76% |
| Stone County, MO | 24 mi | $63,520 | $896/mo | 83% |
| Boone County, AR | 24 mi | $55,143 | $733/mo | 71% |
| Ozark County, MO | 32 mi | $44,163 | $631/mo | 82% |
| Marion County, AR | 33 mi | $48,619 | $795/mo | 81% |
| Carroll County, AR | 35 mi | $54,230 | $856/mo | 77% |
A Taney County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Taney County's medians:
- $4,708 a month: gross income for a household at the Taney County median
- Median rent: $926, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $769 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Taney County's.
Taney County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Taney County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.0% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Taney County
A few patterns in the Taney County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 12% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Taney County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Taney County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Missouri rules that apply in Taney County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Taney County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Taney County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Taney County earn?
The median is $56,497; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 30% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Taney County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $926 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Taney County?
By population: Hollister, Forsyth, Merriam Woods, Kissee Mills, Rockaway Beach. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Can Taney 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Taney County residents?
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Missouri; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.