Housing decision brief
Pike County, MO Housing Market
Pike County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, 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.
32nd lowest home value out of 115 Missouri counties with data | 54th lowest rent out of 115
Median home value
$129,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$742/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$615/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.2x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$127/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
$129,400 median home value is 17% below Missouri county median
Lower rent
$742/mo is 2% below 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 $127/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.77% effective property-tax rate is 4% above Missouri county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Health context
Health score is 37.1 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
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- 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 Pike 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. | $129,400 | $156,400 | $281,900 | 17% favorable17% below Missouri county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $742 | $754 | $1,163 | Near state median2% below Missouri county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $615 | $716 | $1,672 | 14% favorable14% below Missouri county median |
Median household income | $57,572 | $57,488 | $74,755 | Near state medianAt the Missouri county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.77% | 0.74% | 1.02% | Near state median4% 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
+$27,892
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$31,215
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Pike County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $742/month , about 15.5% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Pike County is $742/month, while owner costs run $615/month. Owning saves approximately $127/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $29,680/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $26,357/year. With a median household income of $57,572, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 24.0% of renter households in Pike County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Missouri, Pike County is less affordable than DeKalb County by roughly 7% ($742/mo vs $796/mo).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County, MO | $127,000 | $719/mo | Same-state comparison near $127,000 home value and $719/mo rent. |
| Saline County, MO | $139,600 | $733/mo | Same-state comparison near $139,600 home value and $733/mo rent. |
| Stoddard County, MO | $135,400 | $737/mo | Same-state comparison near $135,400 home value and $737/mo rent. |
| Livingston County, MO | $138,300 | $747/mo | Same-state comparison near $138,300 home value and $747/mo rent. |
| Holt County, MO | $122,300 | $702/mo | Same-state comparison near $122,300 home value and $702/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Pike County
Is Pike County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Pike County?
How much income do you need for housing in Pike County?
What should I double-check before moving to Pike County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.