Howard County, Missouri Income Statistics
Howard 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.
-
C
Howard County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Howard County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,914 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,028 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.0% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.6% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 8% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Howard County (4.5%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Howard 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 Howard County, Missouri grew by 63.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,914 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Howard County
| Metric | Howard County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,437 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,471 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.8% | 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 Howard County, it is 0.554, higher than Missouri's 0.532, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Howard County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $383,810 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Missouri has narrowed from about 36% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,702 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Howard County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.8% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 174 people are unemployed in Howard County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Howard County is 25 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Howard County, Missouri has fallen from 7.0% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.9% in 2020.
Howard County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Howard County, MO is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 10,147 residents against a local median of 23,231. Howard County, MO sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 7% below the local median at $64,914 against $70,093. Howard County, MO has the 4th highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, MO | 10,147 | $64,914 #4/6 | 4.5%/yr #4/6 | 3.7% #3/6 | 0.554 #6/6 |
| Cooper County, MO | 16,823 | $70,419 | 5.8%/yr | 4.3% | 0.528 |
| Randolph County, MO | 24,365 | $53,637 | 3.6%/yr | 4.4% | 0.526 |
| Boone County, MO | 188,044 | $72,634 | 4.5%/yr | 3.8% | 0.547 |
| Chariton County, MO | 7,390 | $70,093 | 6.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.509 |
| Saline County, MO | 23,231 | $58,602 | 4.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.524 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Howard County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Missouri, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Howard County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Howard County, Missouri?
Howard 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 $64,914, about 8% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Howard County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Howard County, Missouri rose 63%, from $39,821 to $64,914. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +63% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Howard County, Missouri was $63,101, up 7% from $59,063 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Howard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Howard County, Missouri was $55,063. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $64,914.
What is the Gini coefficient in Howard County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Howard County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Howard County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Howard County, Missouri has narrowed from about 36% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,702 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →