In Johnson County, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Johnson County, 18.2% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is lower than in 76% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 71% of U.S. counties.
What drives Johnson County's score
In Johnson County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 54.1. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 24.6. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 18.2% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), lower than in 76% 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.
Johnson County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Johnson 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.
- 54.1 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.4% · August 202566th percentile
- People with a credit card behind5.1% · August 202544th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score23.8% · Q4 202551st percentile
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- 39.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line12.9% · 202427th percentile
- People with a disability13.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,188 · 202445th percentile
- People below the poverty line11.8% · 202438th percentile
- People without health insurance8.5% · 2020 to 202455th percentile
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- 36.0 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.4% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.8% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202642nd percentile
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- 35.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.3% · August 202547th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people78.2 · 202524th percentile
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- 24.6 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 income18.2% · fiscal year 202723rd percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent13.7% · 2020 to 202425th 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 Johnson 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
Johnson County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Johnson County in 2024, pay from work was 61 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 16 cents. Benefit checks were 24 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 7 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Johnson County, benefit checks rose from 7 to 24 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Johnson County, Missouri: 24.0% and 60.5% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 24.0% of all personal income in Johnson 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 Johnson County, 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Johnson County has changed
The number of people living in Johnson County grew by about 65% between 1969 and 2024, from 33,777 to 55,880. The number of jobs located there grew by about 36% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 6.0% in 1990 to 4.0% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 33,777 | 2024 55,880 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 11,972 | 2024 16,239 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.0% | 2025 4.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.7% | 2024 11.8% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $23,919 | 2024 $68,188 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 6.9% | 2024 24.0% |
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 Johnson County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 54,013, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1964
Tornado: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
Tornado: $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
Tornado: $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
Lightning: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Johnson County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Johnson County beside its neighbors
All five counties that border Johnson County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Johnson County ranks 4th of the six; Henry County is highest, at 33.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, MO | 73 | 14.3% | 21.1% |
| Pettis County, MO | 64 | 15.7% | 29.6% |
| Henry County, MO | 61 | 14.4% | 33.8% |
| Lafayette County, MO | 54 | 9.7% | 29.4% |
| Cass County, MO | 34 | 7.0% | 19.8% |
| Johnson County, MO | 28 | 11.8% | 24.0% |
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 Johnson County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Johnson County's poverty rate was 11.8% in 2024, 85th 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, Johnson County ranks 91st of 115 in the state.
Johnson County in photographs
Places in Johnson County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Johnson County, Missouri, courthouse in Warrensburg.
Photo: Nja1985 , retouched by Kbh3rd via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Johnson County, Missouri: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Johnson County, Missouri?
11.8% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in nine people. Among children it was 12.9%.
Is Johnson County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Johnson County's poverty rate was 11.8% in 2024, 85th 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, Johnson County ranks 91st of 115 in the state.
What is the population of Johnson County, Missouri?
About 55,880 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 54,013, 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 Johnson 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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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 Johnson 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 Johnson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.