Cost of Living in Cole County, Missouri
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Cole County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Cole County ranks #1,747 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 44%)
Sourced county brief
Cole County Median Rent Burden Estimated at 22.0 Percent
In Cole County, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 22.0%. This rentToIncomePct is 3.9 percentage points lower than the Missouri unweighted county mean of 25.9%. According to ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, the median gross rent in the county is $834 per month, while the state unweighted county mean is $783. Housing values show a median home value of $229,600, which is above the Missouri unweighted county mean of $175,712. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $994, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $803. The median renter-household income is estimated at $46,553. These figures provide a statistical overview of housing tenure costs without suggesting future market movements. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Cole County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 22.0% of renter household income in Cole County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $834 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $994. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,360 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Missouri unweighted mean of county median rents is $783 per month. Cole County's $834 median is 6.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Cole County
Rent Burden
13.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,747
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.9%
of gross income
The median home in Cole County may be a stretch
Median home value is $229,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,833 vs. your max of $1,747.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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