Cole County, Missouri Income Statistics
Cole County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Cole County Below averageWealthier than 86% of counties in Missouri
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cole County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,830 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,047 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.1% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cole County is about 6% higher than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Cole County (4.0%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Cole County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cole County, Missouri grew by 41.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,830 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cole County
| Metric | Cole County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.502 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,029 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,009 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.8% | 20.6% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cole County, it is 0.502, lower than Missouri's 0.532, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 22% more than women's income in Cole County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $385,700 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cole County, Missouri has narrowed from about 21% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,007 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cole County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.2% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,149 people are unemployed in Cole County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Cole County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cole County, Missouri has fallen from 4.7% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.1% in 2012.
Cole County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cole County, MO is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 77,032 residents against a local median of 25,269. Where Cole County, MO breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 22% below the local median of 3.8% at 2.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.6% on unemployment, so Cole County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cole County, MO has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cole County, MO | 77,032 | $74,830 #2/6 | 4.0%/yr #5/6 | 2.9% #3/6 | 0.502 #2/6 |
| Miller County, MO | 25,269 | $57,595 | 4.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.509 |
| Moniteau County, MO | 15,262 | $65,547 | 3.8%/yr | 2.5% | 0.525 |
| Osage County, MO | 13,402 | $76,990 | 4.6%/yr | 1.7% | 0.501 |
| Callaway County, MO | 44,740 | $73,833 | 4.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.520 |
| Boone County, MO | 188,044 | $72,634 | 4.5%/yr | 3.8% | 0.547 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cole County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Missouri, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cole County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Cole County, Missouri?
Cole County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $74,830, about 6% higher than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Cole County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cole County, Missouri rose 42%, from $52,791 to $74,830. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +42% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Cole County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cole County, Missouri was $73,862, up 4% from $71,053 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Cole County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cole County, Missouri was $61,723. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $74,830.
Is unemployment high in Cole County, Missouri?
Unemployment in Cole County, Missouri is only 2.9%, well below the Missouri rate of 4.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cole County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Cole County is 0.502. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cole County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cole County, Missouri has narrowed from about 21% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,007 since 2009.
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