In Schuyler County, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Schuyler County, 16.6% 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 89% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 65% of U.S. counties.
What drives Schuyler County's score
In Schuyler County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 69.6. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 10.8. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 16.6% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), lower than in 89% 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, Schuyler County is worse off than most counties on adults 25 to 54 not working (31.7%, 2020 to 2024) and people without health insurance (15.5%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Schuyler 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.
- 69.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line24.0% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability19.4% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$70,835 · 202438th percentile
- People below the poverty line14.7% · 202462nd percentile
- People without health insurance15.5% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
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- 56.5 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working31.7% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.2% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202620th percentile
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- 40.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.2% · August 202531st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people123.4 · 202548th percentile
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- 28.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202559th percentile
- People with a credit card behind1.6% · August 20255th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score16.8% · Q4 202520th percentile
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- 10.9 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 income16.6% · fiscal year 202710th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent9.5% · 2020 to 202411th 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 Schuyler 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
Schuyler County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Schuyler County in 2024, pay from work was 57 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 14 cents. Benefit checks were 29 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 18 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Schuyler County, benefit checks rose from 18 to 29 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Schuyler County, Missouri: 29.2% and 56.6% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 29.2% of all personal income in Schuyler 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 Schuyler County, 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Schuyler County has changed
The number of people living in Schuyler County fell by about one in 10 between 1969 and 2024, from 4,778 to 4,069. The number of jobs located there grew by about 27% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 5.7% in 1990 to 3.9% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 4,778 | 2024 4,069 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 640 | 2024 811 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.7% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 19.4% | 2024 14.7% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $16,537 | 2024 $70,835 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 17.5% | 2024 29.2% |
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 Schuyler County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 10,840. The 2020 Census counted 4,032, 37% of the peak. Census Bureau
1845
Organized February 14, 1845, from Adair County. Wikipedia
1967
Tornado: $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
Flash flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
18 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Schuyler County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Schuyler County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Schuyler County, in Missouri and Iowa, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Schuyler County ranks 3rd of the six; Appanoose County is highest, at 33.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County, MO | 57 | 21.9% | 28.6% |
| Appanoose County, IA | 47 | 15.8% | 33.8% |
| Schuyler County, MO | 34 | 14.7% | 29.2% |
| Putnam County, MO | 20 | 13.8% | 31.8% |
| Scotland County, MO | 19 | 13.6% | 23.4% |
| Davis County, IA | 10 | 10.4% | 21.3% |
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 Schuyler County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Schuyler County's poverty rate was 14.7% in 2024, 46th 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, Schuyler County ranks 76th of 115 in the state.
Schuyler County in photographs
Places in Schuyler County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Schuyler County, Missouri, courthouse in Lancaster.
Schuyler County R-1 High School.
Schuyler County, Missouri: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Schuyler County, Missouri?
14.7% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in seven people. Among children it was 24.0%.
Is Schuyler County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Schuyler County's poverty rate was 14.7% in 2024, 46th 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, Schuyler County ranks 76th of 115 in the state.
What is the population of Schuyler County, Missouri?
About 4,069 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 4,032, 37% of the county's peak of 10,840 in 1900.
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 Schuyler 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 Schuyler 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 Schuyler County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.