Housing decision brief
Madison County, MO Housing Market
Madison County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
57th lowest home value out of 115 Missouri counties with data | 86th lowest rent out of 115
Median home value
$155,900
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$817/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$664/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$153/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$155,900 median home value is At the Missouri county median
Rent burden below pressure line
24.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $153/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 34.6 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Madison County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $155,900 | $156,400 | $281,900 | Near state medianAt the Missouri county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $817 | $754 | $1,163 | 8% pressure8% above Missouri county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $664 | $716 | $1,672 | 7% favorable7% below Missouri county median |
Median household income | $58,435 | $57,488 | $74,755 | Near state median2% above Missouri county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.74% | 0.74% | 1.02% | Near state medianAt the Missouri county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 24.00% | 26.00% | N/A | 8% favorable24.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$25,755
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$29,978
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Housing in Madison County is affordable. The median rent is $817/month against a median household income of $58,435, putting rent at 16.8% of income.
Rent vs own
Renters in Madison County pay $817/month on average, compared to $664/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 19%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $32,680/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $28,457/year. With a median household income of $58,435, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Madison County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Madison County sits 7% more expensive than Moniteau County ($766/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bates County, MO | $154,800 | $760/mo | Same-state comparison near $154,800 home value and $760/mo rent. |
| Scott County, MO | $143,700 | $809/mo | Same-state comparison near $143,700 home value and $809/mo rent. |
| Adair County, MO | $159,500 | $782/mo | Same-state comparison near $159,500 home value and $782/mo rent. |
| Buchanan County, MO | $156,600 | $889/mo | Same-state comparison near $156,600 home value and $889/mo rent. |
| St. Francois County, MO | $155,100 | $786/mo | Same-state comparison near $155,100 home value and $786/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Madison County
Is Madison County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Madison County?
How much income do you need for housing in Madison County?
What should I double-check before moving to Madison County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.