Housing decision brief
Marion County, MO Housing Market
Marion County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher 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.
63rd lowest home value out of 115 Missouri counties with data | 85th lowest rent out of 115
Median home value
$158,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$813/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$692/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.5x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$121/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
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 $121/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.87% effective property-tax rate is 18% above Missouri county median
Health context
Health score is 41.4 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
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 Marion 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. | $158,100 | $156,400 | $281,900 | Near state median1% above Missouri county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $813 | $754 | $1,163 | 8% pressure8% above Missouri county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $692 | $716 | $1,672 | Near state median3% below Missouri county median |
Median household income | $63,908 | $57,488 | $74,755 | 11% favorable11% above Missouri county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.87% | 0.74% | 1.02% | 18% pressure18% above 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
+$31,388
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$34,251
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Marion County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $813/month in gross rent, with 24.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
At $813/month rent versus $692/month in owner costs, owning is roughly $121/month cheaper , a 15% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $32,520/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $29,657/year. With a median household income of $63,908, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Marion County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Marion County sits 7% more expensive than Bates County ($760/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County, MO | $155,900 | $817/mo | Same-state comparison near $155,900 home value and $817/mo rent. |
| Howard County, MO | $145,300 | $807/mo | Same-state comparison near $145,300 home value and $807/mo rent. |
| Ralls County, MO | $153,400 | $765/mo | Same-state comparison near $153,400 home value and $765/mo rent. |
| Pettis County, MO | $161,500 | $863/mo | Same-state comparison near $161,500 home value and $863/mo rent. |
| Moniteau County, MO | $168,300 | $766/mo | Same-state comparison near $168,300 home value and $766/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Marion County
Is Marion County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Marion County?
How much income do you need for housing in Marion County?
What should I double-check before moving to Marion County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.