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St. Charles Times

Friday, March 14, 2025

St. Charles County ranks 113th highest in Missouri for per capita government transfer income at $9,017 in 2022

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John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website

John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website

In 2022, St. Charles County ranked fourth lowest per capita recipient of government transfers in Missouri, with residents receiving $9,017 per capita from programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income maintenance, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

In total, residents in St. Charles County received $3.7 billion in government transfers, which accounted for 14% of total county income.

Comparatively, across all counties in Missouri, government transfer payments totaled $82.1 billion, making up 18.3% of the state residents’ total income, with an average of $11,455 per resident.

Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).

Breaking down the contributions in St. Charles County at the time, Social Security transfers totaled $1.6 billion, amounting to $3,981 per capita, or 44.2% of total government transfers. Medicare transfers accounted for $1.1 billion ($2,696 per capita), representing 29.9% of the total. Medicaid contributed $423.6 million ($1,024 per capita), making up 11.4% of total transfers. Income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $184.2 million ($445 per capita), or 4.9% of the total.

With 17% of the population aged 65 and older, St. Charles County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Total per capita income excluding government transfers in St. Charles County was $55,546, noticeably below the county’s total income of $64,563, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.

When comparing 2022 to the previous year, St. Charles County saw a decrease of 18.6% in per capita government transfers, from $11,170 to $9,017 per capita.

Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.21% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.63% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022. In St. Charles County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 4.56% (or $1,109 per capita) in 1970 to 14% (or $9,017 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.

According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.

Breakdown of Government Transfers by Program in St. Charles County, 2022

040008000Total Per CapitaIncome Maintenance TransfersMedicaid TransfersMedicare TransfersSocial Security TransfersCounty Amount($)Statewide Average($)

2022 Missouri County Rankings by Per Capita Government Transfers

CountyState Rank (Per Capita Transfers)Per Capita Transfers ($)Dependency on Transfers (%)% Population 65+Social Security Transfers ($)Medicare Transfers ($)Medicaid Transfers ($)Income Maintenance Transfers ($)
Ripley County1$19,83443.59%19.91%$55,178,000$45,976,000$65,264,000$23,039,000
Iron County2$19,46746.67%22.14%$49,485,000$45,301,000$55,066,000$15,639,000
Carter County3$18,77440.49%20.84%$28,565,000$22,930,000$24,241,000$9,735,000
Oregon County4$18,75144%22.93%$44,952,000$32,639,000$43,810,000$17,251,000
Wayne County5$18,32343.25%24.71%$60,402,000$35,966,000$52,095,000$19,643,000
Dunklin County6$17,90740.78%18.84%$117,555,000$107,276,000$172,602,000$58,543,000
Pemiscot County7$17,60837.72%18.31%$61,599,000$55,722,000$90,154,000$36,179,000
Hickory County8$17,43744.61%32.27%$59,401,000$41,735,000$22,323,000$9,771,000
Reynolds County9$17,32042.77%23.92%$34,381,000$20,476,000$27,435,000$9,008,000
Ozark County10$16,62142.12%28.6%$53,744,000$40,132,000$24,469,000$12,046,000
Madison County11$16,29239.81%19.5%$60,094,000$43,092,000$67,680,000$17,383,000
Gentry County12$16,28133.21%18.47%$27,416,000$31,316,000$27,768,000$6,669,000
Benton County13$16,10936.79%31.34%$131,497,000$91,390,000$36,533,000$22,562,000
Butler County14$15,90836.61%19.43%$169,386,000$150,083,000$190,259,000$70,414,000
Mississippi County15$15,86037.34%19.18%$49,856,000$44,701,000$55,689,000$21,314,000
Bollinger County16$15,64234.23%21.51%$53,213,000$35,001,000$40,650,000$15,038,000
Henry County17$15,61731.94%22.55%$118,826,000$104,712,000$65,036,000$26,031,000
Dent County18$15,59337.91%22.31%$69,650,000$55,433,000$54,996,000$20,305,000
Scott County19$15,40930.64%18.83%$171,361,000$139,121,000$150,298,000$60,099,000
St. Clair County20$15,29541.6%25.76%$50,177,000$46,478,000$23,782,000$11,315,000
Shannon County21$15,28638%22.89%$34,369,000$21,733,000$23,201,000$13,208,000
New Madrid County22$15,27829.99%20%$64,452,000$50,128,000$74,387,000$27,345,000
Grundy County23$15,03837%21.99%$41,470,000$48,095,000$32,993,000$10,408,000
Linn County24$14,96333.1%21.17%$51,695,000$53,426,000$31,628,000$13,529,000
Camden County25$14,95629.94%29.75%$267,787,000$178,822,000$83,868,000$36,669,000
Marion County26$14,95230.61%18.91%$118,407,000$108,288,000$119,919,000$33,078,000
Stoddard County27$14,94231.32%20.79%$130,781,000$103,946,000$99,500,000$37,409,000
Crawford County28$14,59533.3%20.8%$110,354,000$82,814,000$76,246,000$29,055,000
Cedar County29$14,59240%23.24%$70,220,000$56,838,000$46,351,000$18,129,000
Sullivan County30$14,58433.98%21.11%$23,637,000$23,238,000$23,278,000$7,185,000
Vernon County31$14,43633.69%20.56%$80,729,000$61,668,000$92,409,000$25,133,000
Howell County32$14,28635.19%19.81%$182,377,000$128,831,000$130,955,000$60,255,000
Putnam County33$14,27035%23.77%$20,994,000$21,395,000$12,138,000$4,678,000
Carroll County34$14,16924.1%22.66%$39,753,000$38,436,000$21,912,000$8,242,000
Harrison County35$14,13832.54%22.66%$35,259,000$35,473,000$25,363,000$9,415,000
Lafayette County36$14,09428.13%19.27%$142,501,000$121,718,000$128,599,000$29,938,000
Stone County37$14,07129.97%31.96%$198,481,000$117,576,000$50,999,000$28,691,000
Morgan County38$14,05629.54%23.57%$114,517,000$74,748,000$54,275,000$24,737,000
Shelby County39$14,04928.62%22.15%$26,415,000$24,267,000$15,657,000$5,871,000
Gasconade County40$14,04529.94%23.38%$78,444,000$58,490,000$34,882,000$13,381,000
Chariton County41$14,04327.46%24.85%$33,614,000$26,147,000$24,308,000$6,399,000
Washington County42$14,03437.33%18%$96,685,000$76,005,000$95,023,000$35,849,000
Worth County43$14,02133.59%26.7%$9,200,000$9,422,000$3,146,000$1,707,000
St. Francois County44$13,91533.11%17.14%$289,646,000$237,731,000$228,087,000$84,001,000
Monroe County45$13,83729.21%24.88%$41,927,000$33,732,000$20,581,000$7,762,000
Holt County46$13,70722.74%25.18%$21,463,000$19,085,000$8,233,000$3,863,000
Macon County47$13,66627.14%22.37%$71,775,000$58,220,000$36,834,000$14,345,000
Mercer County48$13,61736.39%22.79%$15,263,000$15,744,000$8,237,000$2,566,000
Buchanan County49$13,58728.66%17.64%$344,316,000$323,609,000$260,871,000$103,272,000
Wright County50$13,58335.68%19.52%$83,556,000$58,917,000$56,271,000$28,957,000
Knox County51$13,52631.29%21.34%$15,116,000$14,503,000$9,810,000$4,126,000
Randolph County52$13,45927.94%17.15%$91,362,000$81,221,000$82,667,000$29,018,000
Douglas County53$13,40536.47%24.68%$60,142,000$31,941,000$29,983,000$17,010,000
Saline County54$13,28728.84%18%$87,336,000$74,761,000$90,346,000$26,917,000
Montgomery County55$13,15826.49%20.64%$54,858,000$37,483,000$31,649,000$12,154,000
Livingston County56$13,13027.52%20.31%$62,686,000$53,635,000$41,085,000$14,746,000
Atchison County57$13,12023.8%25.54%$26,465,000$24,652,000$6,898,000$4,255,000
St. Louis (Independent City) County58$12,88423.1%15.57%$842,693,000$810,365,000$1,272,911,000$479,476,000
Dallas County59$12,88332.65%20.46%$75,530,000$57,861,000$43,211,000$20,167,000
Howard County60$12,85226.88%19.91%$41,112,000$25,163,000$36,100,000$9,375,000
Maries County61$12,84931.39%21.77%$38,678,000$30,163,000$18,684,000$7,745,000
Dade County62$12,82830.34%24.45%$36,789,000$24,713,000$15,069,000$8,392,000
Laclede County63$12,79929.32%18.1%$147,008,000$110,544,000$91,783,000$47,730,000
Bates County64$12,79826.99%19.8%$73,245,000$59,592,000$35,666,000$16,685,000
Texas County65$12,78935.47%21.18%$99,981,000$78,622,000$57,031,000$30,988,000
Taney County66$12,74228.36%22.49%$277,196,000$190,459,000$99,384,000$64,088,000
Pettis County67$12,43728%17.56%$155,085,000$119,013,000$146,980,000$55,197,000
Cooper County68$12,38524.74%19.71%$70,343,000$52,740,000$47,761,000$15,051,000
Phelps County69$12,37028.14%17.18%$161,828,000$140,790,000$127,333,000$45,763,000
Pike County70$12,29929.72%19.26%$72,578,000$56,567,000$48,988,000$17,607,000
Barton County71$12,27827.99%21%$53,349,000$43,618,000$18,699,000$14,422,000
Polk County72$12,27029%18.3%$115,492,000$91,696,000$105,992,000$38,073,000
Caldwell County73$12,18126.76%20.15%$38,962,000$32,944,000$16,063,000$8,140,000
Perry County74$12,14524.78%20.15%$82,470,000$58,157,000$49,626,000$16,280,000
Franklin County75$11,83521.93%19%$489,743,000$379,530,000$187,510,000$87,176,000
Ray County76$11,80124.83%19.17%$101,538,000$73,836,000$50,623,000$18,778,000
Barry County77$11,78526.86%21.91%$155,937,000$104,789,000$53,678,000$45,587,000
Schuyler County78$11,71329.24%19.38%$14,844,000$13,520,000$9,055,000$4,283,000
Clark County79$11,64826.33%21.28%$27,526,000$22,362,000$11,873,000$6,428,000
Miller County80$11,59926.73%19.93%$103,229,000$60,384,000$65,106,000$28,918,000
Ste. Genevieve County81$11,55924.46%21%$83,445,000$68,596,000$29,559,000$13,795,000
Lewis County82$11,55027.91%19.24%$42,124,000$30,724,000$19,114,000$8,011,000
Jasper County83$11,47426%16.17%$444,583,000$372,486,000$300,260,000$155,028,000
St. Louis County84$11,46912.28%19.11%$4,377,479,000$3,226,625,000$1,980,616,000$877,350,000
St. Louis County85$11,46912.28%19.11%$4,377,479,000$3,226,625,000$1,980,616,000$877,350,000
Lawrence County86$11,37728.19%17.84%$156,740,000$99,269,000$86,982,000$46,670,000
Audrain County87$11,25625.51%19%$105,847,000$72,809,000$42,726,000$26,655,000
Clinton County88$11,13223.19%18.68%$84,581,000$67,430,000$36,735,000$16,766,000
Ralls County89$11,12723.5%23.33%$48,212,000$26,080,000$21,024,000$7,602,000
Daviess County90$11,11530.1%21.97%$35,048,000$26,294,000$14,545,000$7,860,000
Cole County91$11,00519.56%18.22%$321,371,000$213,811,000$147,753,000$66,495,000
Scotland County92$11,00423.31%19.13%$15,857,000$16,448,000$8,408,000$3,722,000
Jackson County93$10,99720.69%15.88%$2,520,299,000$1,980,256,000$1,843,865,000$802,077,000
Callaway County94$10,93223.92%18%$182,427,000$116,247,000$95,492,000$39,252,000
Webster County95$10,86825.97%15.7%$155,443,000$122,555,000$64,112,000$39,815,000
Warren County96$10,83521%18.36%$159,926,000$113,295,000$67,338,000$29,403,000
Greene County97$10,76120.72%17%$1,121,040,000$768,037,000$650,621,000$294,424,000
Cape Girardeau County98$10,64421.44%17.69%$313,752,000$205,400,000$169,887,000$75,520,000
Adair County99$10,42028.31%15.53%$83,656,000$73,811,000$50,222,000$23,333,000
Nodaway County100$10,41025.17%18%$73,356,000$69,793,000$28,810,000$14,134,000
Jefferson County101$10,40120.34%16.65%$959,261,000$633,234,000$391,172,000$167,408,000
Cass County102$10,35918.59%17.97%$436,073,000$331,125,000$178,578,000$74,686,000
Newton County103$10,15221.74%18.93%$233,195,000$121,076,000$117,036,000$63,603,000
Pulaski County104$10,07523%9.61%$114,159,000$99,974,000$82,888,000$52,772,000
Moniteau County105$10,04721.11%16.8%$56,399,000$37,742,000$28,249,000$13,731,000
Lincoln County106$9,82719.73%14.62%$231,813,000$162,615,000$119,268,000$51,644,000
McDonald County107$9,71625.97%16.16%$71,565,000$55,025,000$46,430,000$32,915,000
DeKalb County108$9,69226%18.56%$42,087,000$28,933,000$20,258,000$7,198,000
Osage County109$9,63018.21%18.14%$51,263,000$32,748,000$18,228,000$8,410,000
Johnson County110$9,50822%13%$161,210,000$118,173,000$90,874,000$42,761,000
Christian County111$9,46219.11%16.78%$343,883,000$225,717,000$111,669,000$72,569,000
Clay County112$9,03416.21%15.29%$912,888,000$657,246,000$322,069,000$173,303,000
St. Charles County113$9,01713.97%16.95%$1,647,510,000$1,115,412,000$423,641,000$184,244,000
Andrew County114$8,95417.52%20.34%$67,971,000$46,013,000$17,270,000$11,417,000
Boone County115$8,60115.53%13.68%$566,694,000$368,681,000$329,792,000$136,445,000
Platte County116$8,40312.27%16%$380,117,000$259,272,000$93,729,000$56,137,000

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