Cole County, MO at a glance
Median household income
$74,876$6,240 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Cole 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 Cole County, MO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Jefferson City, MO HUD Metro FMR Area, 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 | $689 | $8,268 | $27,560 | 11% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $694 | $8,328 | $27,760 | 11.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $910 | $10,920 | $36,400 | 14.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,266 | $15,192 | $50,640 | 20.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,379 | $16,548 | $55,160 | 22.1% |
What a typical income covers in Cole County, MO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $74,876 a year ($6,240 a month before tax).
What $74,876 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 Cole County, MO: common questions
What is the median household income in Cole County, MO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Cole County, MO is $74,876 per year (approximately $6,240 per month).
What is the average rent in Cole County, MO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $689 for a studio, $694 for one bedroom, $910 for two, $1,266 for three and $1,379 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 Cole County, MO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.0, 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 Cole County, MO?
To keep a $910 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $36,400 a year, or $3,033 a month. That is 49% of what the typical household in Cole County, MO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Cole County, MO?
On the local median income of $74,876 ($6,240 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,120 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,872 for everything else and $1,248 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $910 takes 29% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Cole 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.