County housing intelligence
Missouri Housing Market by County
Missouri is not one housing market. Across 115 counties, the median county home value is $168,100 and the median county rent is $767/mo. The useful question is not whether Missouri is cheap. It is which county fits your income, tax tolerance, and buy-versus-rent plan.
County median home value
$168,100
Median of county medians, less distorted by the largest metros.
County median rent
$767/mo
Gross rent includes rent plus utilities where Census reports it.
Counties compared
115
Every county with available ACS housing data in this state.
Fast answers
Start with the housing question.
Market brief
The state-level housing signal
These benchmarks use the median county in the state, not one metro-weighted average. That makes the brief better for county comparison and rural-to-urban screening.
Purchase price
State county median vs national benchmark
Rent
State county median vs national benchmark
Owner cost
State county median vs national benchmark
Income base
State county median vs national benchmark
Tax rate
State county median vs national benchmark
The Missouri Pattern
These are the signals a statewide average hides. Start here before choosing counties to compare.
Price geography
Platte County, St. Charles County, Camden County sit at the top of the purchase market, while Worth County, Pemiscot County, Dunklin County anchor the lower-cost end.
Rent reality
St. Charles County, Platte County, Clay County lead on rent, while Worth County, Schuyler County, Scotland County show where monthly lease costs are lowest.
Decision lens
Mercer County, Atchison County, Knox County screen best for purchase affordability when home values are measured against local household income.
Best Counties by Housing Goal
Different households need different rankings. Price alone is not enough, so these groups compare rent, income, owner costs, and tax exposure.
Cheapest to buy
Lowest median home values. Useful for purchase-price screening.
- 1. Worth County
$96,600
- 2. Pemiscot County
$97,000
- 3. Dunklin County
$97,600
- 4. Shelby County
$99,900
- 5. Knox County
$101,400
Best buy affordability
Lowest home-value-to-income ratios. Better than price alone.
- 1. Mercer County
1.7x home-value-to-income
- 2. Atchison County
1.8x home-value-to-income
- 3. Knox County
1.8x home-value-to-income
- 4. Carroll County
1.9x home-value-to-income
- 5. Putnam County
1.9x home-value-to-income
Cheapest to rent
Lowest median gross rent among counties with ACS rent data.
- 1. Worth County
$381/mo
- 2. Schuyler County
$382/mo
- 3. Scotland County
$511/mo
- 4. Putnam County
$521/mo
- 5. Chariton County
$567/mo
Lowest rent burden
Where typical renters spend the smallest share of income on rent.
- 1. Maries County
17.6% rent burden
- 2. Holt County
18.1% rent burden
- 3. Sullivan County
18.2% rent burden
- 4. Atchison County
19.0% rent burden
- 5. Worth County
19.0% rent burden
Lowest tax-rate signal
Lowest effective property-tax rates in the state data.
- 1. Reynolds County
0.37% effective tax rate
- 2. Dallas County
0.40% effective tax rate
- 3. Wright County
0.40% effective tax rate
- 4. Hickory County
0.41% effective tax rate
- 5. Carter County
0.42% effective tax rate
Owner-cost advantage
Counties where median owner costs are furthest below median rent.
- 1. Pulaski County
$250/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 2. Mississippi County
$232/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 3. Barton County
$184/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 4. Madison County
$170/mo cheaper to own than rent
- 5. Wayne County
$145/mo cheaper to own than rent
Income-backed value
Higher-income counties that still hold a reasonable value-to-income profile.
- 1. Mercer County
$62,679 income, 1.7x value-to-income
- 2. St. Charles County
$104,692 income, 3.1x value-to-income
- 3. Putnam County
$63,510 income, 1.9x value-to-income
- 4. Lincoln County
$89,278 income, 2.7x value-to-income
- 5. Carroll County
$62,154 income, 1.9x value-to-income
Tradeoffs to Check
The best page is not the one that crowns a winner. It is the one that shows where a county can surprise you after the headline price looks attractive.
| Signal | County | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cheap price, weaker income base | Worth County $96,600 home value, $47,847 income | Low purchase prices can still feel tight when local wages are also low. |
| Affordable homes, higher tax rate | Worth County $96,600 home value, 0.82% tax rate | A low home price can be offset by the annual property-tax bill. |
| Renter pressure | Hickory County $648/mo rent, 35.30% rent burden | Monthly rent alone does not show whether renters can comfortably absorb the cost. |
| Expensive, but income-supported | Platte County $345,100 home value, $96,227 income | Some high-price counties also have stronger incomes, so affordability depends on both sides of the equation. |
Lowest home values
Best value-to-income
Compare Every Missouri County
Sorted by home-value-to-income ratio so the first rows are not just cheap counties, but counties where purchase prices look smaller relative to local income.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Income | Value/Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | $104,900 | $590/mo | $62,679 | 1.7x | 0.96% |
| Atchison County | $106,800 | $631/mo | $58,750 | 1.8x | 1.16% |
| Knox County | $101,400 | $666/mo | $57,788 | 1.8x | 0.83% |
| Carroll County | $117,500 | $822/mo | $62,154 | 1.9x | 0.79% |
| Putnam County | $119,500 | $521/mo | $63,510 | 1.9x | 1.01% |
| Shelby County | $99,900 | $625/mo | $51,594 | 1.9x | 0.86% |
| Dunklin County | $97,600 | $648/mo | $47,849 | 2.0x | 0.70% |
| Harrison County | $109,500 | $703/mo | $54,367 | 2.0x | 0.89% |
| Linn County | $123,300 | $620/mo | $61,635 | 2.0x | 0.72% |
| Sullivan County | $115,600 | $673/mo | $56,964 | 2.0x | 0.69% |
| Worth County | $96,600 | $381/mo | $47,847 | 2.0x | 0.82% |
| Chariton County | $160,900 | $567/mo | $71,520 | 2.2x | 0.64% |
| Grundy County | $112,500 | $696/mo | $51,975 | 2.2x | 1.00% |
| Lewis County | $130,200 | $644/mo | $59,934 | 2.2x | 0.71% |
| New Madrid County | $111,800 | $729/mo | $51,881 | 2.2x | 0.73% |
| Schuyler County | $137,500 | $382/mo | $61,205 | 2.2x | 0.79% |
| Holt County | $138,200 | $650/mo | $61,187 | 2.3x | 0.70% |
| Livingston County | $147,700 | $768/mo | $63,627 | 2.3x | 0.81% |
| Mississippi County | $109,000 | $762/mo | $48,160 | 2.3x | 0.81% |
| Scotland County | $158,800 | $511/mo | $68,913 | 2.3x | 0.79% |
| Washington County | $129,400 | $684/mo | $56,043 | 2.3x | 0.56% |
| Wayne County | $107,400 | $665/mo | $47,226 | 2.3x | 0.52% |
| Audrain County | $143,100 | $693/mo | $59,448 | 2.4x | 0.79% |
| DeKalb County | $169,200 | $817/mo | $69,826 | 2.4x | 0.76% |
| Gentry County | $134,000 | $636/mo | $55,848 | 2.4x | 0.93% |
| Howard County | $159,400 | $832/mo | $65,938 | 2.4x | 0.77% |
| Iron County | $119,300 | $664/mo | $48,850 | 2.4x | 0.68% |
| Macon County | $149,100 | $672/mo | $62,357 | 2.4x | 0.69% |
| Pemiscot County | $97,000 | $695/mo | $40,089 | 2.4x | 0.95% |
| Clark County | $130,700 | $612/mo | $51,781 | 2.5x | 0.87% |
| Daviess County | $161,800 | $696/mo | $63,984 | 2.5x | 0.66% |
| Scott County | $154,400 | $873/mo | $62,782 | 2.5x | 0.62% |
| Stoddard County | $143,300 | $760/mo | $57,957 | 2.5x | 0.66% |
| Barton County | $136,500 | $805/mo | $51,635 | 2.6x | 0.71% |
| Caldwell County | $166,500 | $640/mo | $64,806 | 2.6x | 0.80% |
| Marion County | $162,000 | $808/mo | $62,903 | 2.6x | 0.82% |
| Oregon County | $113,300 | $639/mo | $43,069 | 2.6x | 0.55% |
| Ralls County | $168,200 | $749/mo | $65,388 | 2.6x | 0.73% |
| Saline County | $150,500 | $739/mo | $57,931 | 2.6x | 0.78% |
| Adair County | $165,700 | $772/mo | $61,536 | 2.7x | 0.77% |
| Buchanan County | $166,300 | $902/mo | $62,158 | 2.7x | 0.77% |
| Callaway County | $201,600 | $887/mo | $74,176 | 2.7x | 0.77% |
| Jasper County | $166,900 | $973/mo | $60,694 | 2.7x | 0.72% |
| Lafayette County | $216,500 | $928/mo | $80,612 | 2.7x | 0.73% |
| Lincoln County | $244,300 | $961/mo | $89,278 | 2.7x | 0.74% |
| Monroe County | $149,300 | $689/mo | $54,516 | 2.7x | 0.80% |
| Montgomery County | $178,700 | $788/mo | $65,500 | 2.7x | 0.76% |
| Pike County | $146,000 | $778/mo | $54,989 | 2.7x | 0.67% |
| Ray County | $198,800 | $782/mo | $74,573 | 2.7x | 0.80% |
| Andrew County | $215,400 | $961/mo | $75,625 | 2.8x | 0.73% |
| Bates County | $170,800 | $786/mo | $60,733 | 2.8x | 0.61% |
| Bollinger County | $179,800 | $694/mo | $63,814 | 2.8x | 0.58% |
| Gasconade County | $179,900 | $743/mo | $64,232 | 2.8x | 0.73% |
| Henry County | $160,600 | $768/mo | $57,926 | 2.8x | 0.81% |
| Moniteau County | $181,900 | $735/mo | $65,715 | 2.8x | 0.68% |
| Pettis County | $166,300 | $885/mo | $60,430 | 2.8x | 0.78% |
| Ripley County | $119,600 | $654/mo | $42,037 | 2.8x | 0.46% |
| Cooper County | $203,500 | $782/mo | $70,625 | 2.9x | 0.66% |
| Jefferson County | $237,200 | $979/mo | $82,851 | 2.9x | 0.80% |
| Lawrence County | $175,100 | $800/mo | $61,215 | 2.9x | 0.59% |
| Madison County | $159,000 | $808/mo | $54,434 | 2.9x | 0.71% |
| Newton County | $190,700 | $817/mo | $66,301 | 2.9x | 0.63% |
| Osage County | $223,300 | $639/mo | $76,681 | 2.9x | 0.59% |
| Pulaski County | $189,800 | $1,112/mo | $64,466 | 2.9x | 0.61% |
| Shannon County | $157,500 | $574/mo | $55,222 | 2.9x | 0.43% |
| St. Francois County | $169,300 | $794/mo | $57,477 | 2.9x | 0.70% |
| Texas County | $146,700 | $665/mo | $50,036 | 2.9x | 0.49% |
| Butler County | $145,100 | $780/mo | $49,089 | 3.0x | 0.67% |
| Crawford County | $172,600 | $795/mo | $57,629 | 3.0x | 0.56% |
| Dent County | $167,500 | $660/mo | $56,312 | 3.0x | 0.52% |
| McDonald County | $154,700 | $767/mo | $52,375 | 3.0x | 0.46% |
| Nodaway County | $177,500 | $786/mo | $59,315 | 3.0x | 0.77% |
| Perry County | $188,200 | $923/mo | $62,981 | 3.0x | 0.74% |
| Randolph County | $159,300 | $760/mo | $53,033 | 3.0x | 0.78% |
| St. Clair County | $157,100 | $622/mo | $53,043 | 3.0x | 0.61% |
| Vernon County | $158,800 | $734/mo | $52,230 | 3.0x | 0.67% |
| Clay County | $275,600 | $1,243/mo | $88,468 | 3.1x | 1.07% |
| Cole County | $229,600 | $834/mo | $74,876 | 3.1x | 0.77% |
| Franklin County | $227,600 | $893/mo | $73,165 | 3.1x | 0.80% |
| St. Charles County | $320,800 | $1,370/mo | $104,692 | 3.1x | 1.08% |
| Barry County | $187,800 | $766/mo | $58,346 | 3.2x | 0.53% |
| Cape Girardeau County | $220,700 | $881/mo | $68,464 | 3.2x | 0.64% |
| Carter County | $159,400 | $656/mo | $50,000 | 3.2x | 0.42% |
| Clinton County | $226,800 | $1,008/mo | $70,627 | 3.2x | 0.81% |
| Dade County | $170,600 | $683/mo | $53,750 | 3.2x | 0.62% |
| Laclede County | $168,400 | $809/mo | $53,282 | 3.2x | 0.60% |
| Warren County | $260,400 | $995/mo | $81,209 | 3.2x | 0.69% |
| Webster County | $228,800 | $789/mo | $71,155 | 3.2x | 0.52% |
| Cass County | $292,400 | $1,205/mo | $87,535 | 3.3x | 0.86% |
| Christian County | $274,900 | $1,058/mo | $83,437 | 3.3x | 0.70% |
| St. Louis County | $276,800 | $1,209/mo | $82,936 | 3.3x | 1.20% |
| Ste. Genevieve County | $222,200 | $780/mo | $66,339 | 3.3x | 0.63% |
| Wright County | $160,100 | $625/mo | $47,909 | 3.3x | 0.40% |
| Benton County | $177,900 | $773/mo | $52,567 | 3.4x | 0.53% |
| Howell County | $173,000 | $733/mo | $50,993 | 3.4x | 0.50% |
| Jackson County | $230,500 | $1,197/mo | $68,577 | 3.4x | 1.12% |
| Miller County | $192,600 | $763/mo | $56,736 | 3.4x | 0.57% |
| Reynolds County | $151,700 | $655/mo | $45,028 | 3.4x | 0.37% |
| Cedar County | $168,100 | $767/mo | $48,181 | 3.5x | 0.62% |
| Johnson County | $235,700 | $932/mo | $67,272 | 3.5x | 0.66% |
| Phelps County | $206,500 | $798/mo | $58,396 | 3.5x | 0.64% |
| Polk County | $205,800 | $814/mo | $59,647 | 3.5x | 0.55% |
| St. Louis city | $197,500 | $997/mo | $56,160 | 3.5x | 1.03% |
| Dallas County | $190,300 | $642/mo | $53,464 | 3.6x | 0.40% |
| Greene County | $221,300 | $989/mo | $61,479 | 3.6x | 0.71% |
| Morgan County | $194,400 | $721/mo | $53,412 | 3.6x | 0.56% |
| Platte County | $345,100 | $1,334/mo | $96,227 | 3.6x | 1.05% |
| Boone County | $272,800 | $1,088/mo | $72,758 | 3.7x | 0.85% |
| Douglas County | $168,200 | $700/mo | $45,985 | 3.7x | 0.44% |
| Maries County | $219,100 | $590/mo | $59,455 | 3.7x | 0.51% |
| Ozark County | $168,600 | $631/mo | $44,163 | 3.8x | 0.44% |
| Stone County | $249,000 | $896/mo | $63,520 | 3.9x | 0.47% |
| Taney County | $218,800 | $926/mo | $56,497 | 3.9x | 0.55% |
| Hickory County | $176,100 | $648/mo | $39,390 | 4.5x | 0.41% |
| Camden County | $305,400 | $876/mo | $66,387 | 4.6x | 0.47% |
Questions This Page Answers
Each answer is generated from the current county dataset, so it changes when the underlying ACS data changes.
What is the typical home value in Missouri by county?
What is the typical rent in Missouri by county?
Which Missouri counties are most affordable to buy in?
Why do cheap counties still need a closer look?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.