Buchanan County, MO at a glance
Median household income
$62,158$5,180 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Buchanan County, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Buchanan County, MO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for St. Joseph, MO-KS MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $774 | $9,288 | $30,960 | 14.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $832 | $9,984 | $33,280 | 16.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,077 | $12,924 | $43,080 | 20.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,363 | $16,356 | $54,520 | 26.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,566 | $18,792 | $62,640 | 30.2% |
Rent in Buchanan County, MO, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Buchanan County, MO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $62,158 a year ($5,180 a month before tax).
What $62,158 leaves after Missouri taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Missouri tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Missouri
Living in Buchanan County, MO: common questions
What is the median household income in Buchanan County, MO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Buchanan County, MO is $62,158 per year (approximately $5,180 per month).
What is the average rent in Buchanan County, MO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $774 for a studio, $832 for one bedroom, $1,077 for two, $1,363 for three and $1,566 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Buchanan County, MO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 13.6% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 86.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Buchanan County, MO?
To keep a $1,077 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $43,080 a year, or $3,590 a month. That is 69% of what the typical household in Buchanan County, MO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Buchanan County, MO?
On the local median income of $62,158 ($5,180 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,590 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,554 for everything else and $1,036 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,077 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Buchanan County, MO?
Homes in Missouri paid 16.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $146. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.