1st Advantage MortgageIn Wright County, Missouri, the typical household earns $47,909 a year and the typical rent is $625. 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
- Getting oriented in Wright County
- What Wright County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Wright County
- Renting and owning in Wright County
- Places inside Wright County
- Counties near Wright County
- Budget math at the Wright County median
- What the numbers mean for Wright County borrowers
- Wright County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Who licenses lenders for Wright County residents
- Four steps for Wright County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wright County
Roughly 18,965 residents live in Wright County, Missouri, 58th by population among the state's 115 counties and county equivalents. It covers 682 square miles of land, or about 28 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Wright County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Wright County, Mountain Grove leads by population with about 4,491; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
What Wright County households earn
Half of Wright County households take in less than $47,909 a year and half take in more, 32% below the Missouri median of $70,702. In the state ranking that is 105th of 115.
| Yearly household income | Wright County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.6% | +13.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.2% | -8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -5.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Wright County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.7% of Wright County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.455 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Wright 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.
Jobs and commutes in Wright County
The biggest employer of Wright County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 16% locally and 11% for Missouri. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 26% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.0% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Where residents work | Wright County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.6% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.6% | +4.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Wright County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $625 in Wright County versus $1,033 statewide. By the Census definition, 44% of Wright County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $160,100, or 3.3 years of median income. 77% of Wright County households own their home and 23% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | Wright County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $625/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $160,100 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wright 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.
Places inside Wright County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Wright County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 7,331 people, so roughly 61% of residents live outside any named place. Mountain Grove has the highest median household income on the list ($37,415) and Hartville the lowest ($20,673), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Grove | city | 4,491 | $37,415 | $839 | 15 mi |
| Mansfield | city | 1,524 | $29,773 | $458 | 12 mi |
| Norwood | city | 681 | $34,783 | $617 | 12 mi |
| Hartville | city | 610 | $20,673 | $388 | 2 mi |
| Grovespring | CDP | 25 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Wright County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wright County's, from 22 to 42 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Wright County; Webster County is highest at $71,155 and Douglas County lowest at $45,985.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | - | $47,909 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Webster County, MO | 22 mi | $71,155 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Douglas County, MO | 22 mi | $45,985 | $700/mo | 81% |
| Laclede County, MO | 28 mi | $53,282 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Texas County, MO | 29 mi | $50,036 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 41 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Dallas County, MO | 42 mi | $53,464 | $642/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Wright County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Wright County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,992 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($625)
- Under a 43% cap, $1,717 total minus rent leaves $1,092
Two-income households and single earners in Wright County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Wright County borrowers
Where the Wright County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 13% of Wright County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Wright County budgets.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Wright County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 13.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Wright County | Missouri | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.7% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.5% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.4% |
| 60+ min | 16.0% |
Who licenses lenders for Wright County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Wright County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Four steps for Wright County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wright County earn?
The median is $47,909; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 37% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Wright County rent compare with Missouri?
$625 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 39% below.
I live in a small Wright County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Mountain Grove, Mansfield, Norwood, Hartville, Grovespring.
Will a Wright County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Wright 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.