Iron County, MO

This county of 9,277 residents needs 110 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
9,277 (2026)
Households
3,788
Median household income
$57,234 (2026)
Typical home value
$142,297
Owner-occupied
62%
Five-year housing need
110 units

Comparison to other Missouri counties

Iron County: $57,234 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$41K >$94K
Iron County: 0.81 jobs to household ratio
<0.36 >1.44
Iron County: Permits since 2021 represent 0.7% of housing
<0% >5.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $142,297, homes in Iron County, MO cost well below the Missouri average of $231,344. Iron County, MO's median household income of $57,234 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Iron County, MO has a population of roughly 9,446, though it has been declining at 0.8% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Iron County, MO has roughly 3,788 households, though population has been declining at 0.8% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Iron County, MO is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 78% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Iron County, MO, with 62% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Iron County, MO needs 110 new units over the next 5 years.

110
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
46
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.0 per 1,000 units.
21
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.8%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
43
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 3.4%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
110
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
22
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
2.3%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.5%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?