Cost of Living in Phelps 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 Phelps County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Phelps County ranks #1,263 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 40%)
Sourced county brief
Phelps County Official Rent Burden Estimated at 30.1 Percent
In Phelps County, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) is 30.1%, which is 4.2 percentage points higher than the unweighted county mean of 25.9% for Missouri. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $798 per month, while the state unweighted county mean for rent is $783. For those in owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $825, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $803. The median home value in Phelps County is $206,500, a figure that differs from the $175,712 unweighted county mean across the state. Renter households in the county have a median income of $29,756. This analysis utilizes official ACS B25071 data for rent-to-income calculations rather than derived 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: Phelps County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.1% of renter household income in Phelps County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $798 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $825. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,920 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. Phelps County's $798 median is 1.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Phelps County
Rent Burden
16.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,363
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.0%
of gross income
The median home in Phelps County may be a stretch
Median home value is $206,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,649 vs. your max of $1,363.
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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