In Lawrence County, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Lawrence County, 18.8% 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 70% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives Lawrence County's score
In Lawrence County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 55.8. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 27.5. About one in seven renters (13.8%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 74% 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, Lawrence County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (14.0%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Lawrence 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.
- 55.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line15.1% · 202439th percentile
- People with a disability15.5% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$62,434 · 202462nd percentile
- People below the poverty line12.6% · 202445th percentile
- People without health insurance14.0% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
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- 52.3 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.2% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.9% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202645th percentile
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- 52.1 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 behind5.9% · August 202557th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score24.5% · Q4 202554th percentile
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- 44.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.3% · August 202554th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people95.2 · 202533rd percentile
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- 27.5 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 rent13.8% · 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 Lawrence 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
Lawrence County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Lawrence County in 2024, pay from work was 56 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 14 cents. Benefit checks were 31 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 13 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Lawrence County, benefit checks rose from 13 to 31 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Lawrence County, Missouri: 30.8% and 55.5% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 30.8% of all personal income in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Lawrence County has changed
The number of people living in Lawrence County grew by about 58% between 1969 and 2024, from 24,849 to 39,151. The number of jobs located there grew by about 20% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 5.2% in 1990 to 4.2% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 24,849 | 2024 39,151 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 7,414 | 2024 8,920 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.2% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.3% | 2024 12.6% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $19,785 | 2024 $62,434 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 13.0% | 2024 30.8% |
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 Lawrence County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 38,634. The 2020 Census counted 38,001, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
1845
Organized in 1845. Wikipedia
2002
Tornado: two deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Tornado: $27.5 million in property damage, five deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
Tornado: $5 million in property damage, one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2026
Hail: $118 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Lawrence County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Lawrence County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Lawrence County, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Lawrence County ranks 2nd of the eight; Dade County is highest, at 32.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County, MO | 70 | 13.5% | 27.1% |
| Barry County, MO | 54 | 15.7% | 29.7% |
| Stone County, MO | 52 | 14.1% | 30.7% |
| Newton County, MO | 51 | 12.4% | 23.5% |
| Greene County, MO | 47 | 10.5% | 22.1% |
| Lawrence County, MO | 43 | 12.6% | 30.8% |
| Dade County, MO | 43 | 13.5% | 32.1% |
| Christian County, MO | 17 | 8.0% | 20.5% |
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 Lawrence County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Lawrence County's poverty rate was 12.6% in 2024, 76th 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, Lawrence County ranks 65th of 115 in the state.
Lawrence County in photographs
Places in Lawrence County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Lawrence County, Missouri, courthouse in Mount Vernon.
Lawrence County, Missouri: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Lawrence County, Missouri?
12.6% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in eight people. Among children it was 15.1%.
Is Lawrence County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Lawrence County's poverty rate was 12.6% in 2024, 76th 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, Lawrence County ranks 65th of 115 in the state.
What is the population of Lawrence County, Missouri?
About 39,151 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 38,001, 98% of the county's peak of 38,634 in 2010.
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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.