Joplin, MO at a glance
Median household income
$52,097$4,341 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Joplin, 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 Joplin, MO? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Joplin, 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 | $760 | $9,120 | $30,400 | 17.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $765 | $9,180 | $30,600 | 17.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $947 | $11,364 | $37,880 | 21.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,237 | $14,844 | $49,480 | 28.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,285 | $15,420 | $51,400 | 29.6% |
What a typical income covers in Joplin, MO
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $52,097 a year ($4,341 a month before tax).
What $52,097 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 Joplin, MO: common questions
What is the median household income in Joplin, MO?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Joplin, MO is $52,097 per year (approximately $4,341 per month).
What is the average rent in Joplin, MO?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $760 for a studio, $765 for one bedroom, $947 for two, $1,237 for three and $1,285 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 Joplin, MO expensive to live in?
Prices there run 14.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 85.7, 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 Joplin, MO?
To keep a $947 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $37,880 a year, or $3,157 a month. That is 73% of what the typical household in Joplin, MO earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Joplin, MO?
On the local median income of $52,097 ($4,341 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,171 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,302 for everything else and $868 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $947 takes 44% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Joplin, 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.