Cost of Living in McDonald 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 McDonald County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McDonald County ranks #771 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 25%)
Sourced county brief
McDonald County Official GRAPI Reported at 25.2 Percent
The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) is 25.2%. This canonical figure from ACS table B25071 is 0.7 percentage points below the Missouri unweighted county mean of 25.9%. The median gross rent in McDonald County is $767 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $783. The median home value was estimated at $154,700, while the state unweighted county mean is $175,712. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $712, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $803. The median renter-household income for the area is $36,752. These statistics are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. 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: McDonald County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.2% of renter household income in McDonald 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 $767 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $712. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,680 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. McDonald County's $767 median is 2.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McDonald County
Rent Burden
17.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,222
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.3%
of gross income
The median home in McDonald County may be a stretch
Median home value is $154,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,235 vs. your max of $1,222.
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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