About one in 11 people in Jefferson County, Missouri, lives below the poverty line
In Jefferson County, 9.3% of people lived below the poverty line (Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024). That is lower than in 83% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 71% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jefferson County's score
In Jefferson County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 61.8. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 22.2. The typical household earns $86,073 a year (2024), more than in 86% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Even so, Jefferson County is worse off than most counties on bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (205.9, 2025).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Jefferson County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 61.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.3% · August 202547th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people205.9 · 202576th percentile
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- 42.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.8% · August 202544th percentile
- People with a credit card behind5.1% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score21.5% · Q4 202540th percentile
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- 36.9 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.8% · fiscal year 202729th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent17.1% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
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- 24.4 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.5% · 2020 to 202418th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.5% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202630th percentile
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- 22.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line11.1% · 202418th percentile
- People with a disability13.3% · 2020 to 202424th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$86,073 · 202413th percentile
- People below the poverty line9.3% · 202417th percentile
- People without health insurance6.6% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Jefferson County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jefferson County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jefferson County in 2024, pay from work was 66 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 12 cents. Benefit checks were 22 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 6 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Jefferson County, benefit checks rose from 6 to 22 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Jefferson County, Missouri: 21.9% and 65.7% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 21.9% of all personal income in Jefferson County, Missouri (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Jefferson County, 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Jefferson County has changed
The number of people living in Jefferson County more than doubled between 1969 and 2024, from 103,123 to 231,888. The number of jobs located there grew by about 57% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 7.8% in 1990 to 3.7% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 103,123 | 2024 231,888 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 31,459 | 2024 49,458 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.8% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 6.7% | 2024 9.3% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $32,713 | 2024 $86,073 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 5.9% | 2024 21.9% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Jefferson County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 226,739, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1818
Organized in 1818. Wikipedia
1981
Tornado: $2.5 million in property damage, one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
Flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Flash flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
Flash flood: $4 million in property damage, two deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
30 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jefferson County, 21 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Jefferson County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Jefferson County, in Missouri and Illinois, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jefferson County ranks 5th of the seven; Washington County is highest, at 38.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, MO | 82 | 18.0% | 38.7% |
| St. Francois County, MO | 73 | 14.6% | 34.0% |
| St. Louis County, MO | 40 | 9.8% | 13.1% |
| Franklin County, MO | 32 | 9.0% | 24.0% |
| Jefferson County, MO | 28 | 9.3% | 21.9% |
| Ste. Genevieve County, MO | 11 | 9.8% | 25.5% |
| Monroe County, IL | 0 | 4.7% | 16.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Jefferson County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Jefferson County's poverty rate was 9.3% in 2024, 103rd highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jefferson County ranks 94th of 115 in the state.
Jefferson County in photographs
Places in Jefferson County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
The county courthouse for Jefferson County, Missouri in Hillsboro.
Interstate 55 North approaches Meramec Bottom Rd exit - Jefferson County, Missouri, 2004.
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Jefferson County, Missouri: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Jefferson County, Missouri?
9.3% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in 11 people. Among children it was 11.1%.
Is Jefferson County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Jefferson County's poverty rate was 9.3% in 2024, 103rd highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jefferson County ranks 94th of 115 in the state.
What is the population of Jefferson County, Missouri?
About 231,888 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 226,739, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Jefferson County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Central Missouri Legal Services
Legal aid
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The Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,311 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Jefferson County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Jefferson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.