Missouri Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 115 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$768/mo
Average Home Value
$162,432
Average Owner Cost
$783/mo
County cost atlas
Missouri housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
115
Avg rent
$768/mo
Owner cost
$783/mo
Avg score
65.3
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Missouri: An Overview
The median rent in Missouri is $768 per month, which is 34% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Missouri, housing costs vary significantly by county. St. Charles County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,312 per month and a median home value of $296,800. Worth County has the lowest reported median rent at $353 per month and a median home value of $94,600.
The average home value across Missouri counties is $162,432, 42% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $59,503, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Missouri, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Missouri
How median rents are spread across 115 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Missouri Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Charles County | Moderate$1,312/mo | $296,800 | $1,506/mo | 10.1 | 25.0% |
| Platte County | Moderate$1,247/mo | $317,600 | $1,545/mo | 10.7 | 24.0% |
| Clay County | Moderate$1,220/mo | $256,400 | $1,367/mo | 13.4 | 27.0% |
| St. Louis County | Moderate$1,164/mo | $260,700 | $1,320/mo | 15.4 | 29.0% |
| Jackson County | Moderate$1,151/mo | $213,300 | $1,201/mo | 18.1 | 29.0% |
| Cass County | Moderate$1,147/mo | $269,000 | $1,308/mo | 16.0 | 27.0% |
| Pulaski County | Moderate$1,072/mo | $189,700 | $922/mo | 30.3 | 23.0% |
| Boone County | Moderate$1,060/mo | $254,100 | $1,156/mo | 21.9 | 30.0% |
| Clinton County | Affordable$985/mo | $204,300 | $1,155/mo | 25.3 | 22.0% |
| Christian County | Affordable$979/mo | $249,700 | $1,230/mo | 23.6 | 26.0% |
| St. Louis city | Affordable$978/mo | $185,100 | $1,093/mo | 27.4 | 27.0% |
| Jefferson County | Affordable$972/mo | $218,800 | $1,168/mo | 25.6 | 25.0% |
| Lincoln County | Affordable$972/mo | $224,800 | $1,134/mo | 26.5 | 24.0% |
| Andrew County | Affordable$944/mo | $196,200 | $879/mo | 39.2 | 24.0% |
| Greene County | Affordable$940/mo | $203,500 | $1,001/mo | 33.3 | 29.0% |
| Taney County | Affordable$925/mo | $203,800 | $847/mo | 42.9 | 26.0% |
| Perry County | Affordable$923/mo | $189,400 | $847/mo | 43.0 | 32.0% |
| Warren County | Affordable$913/mo | $241,200 | $1,206/mo | 28.9 | 28.0% |
| Johnson County | Affordable$905/mo | $221,400 | $1,053/mo | 34.1 | 27.0% |
| Jasper County | Affordable$904/mo | $158,500 | $924/mo | 39.6 | 30.0% |
| Stone County | Affordable$892/mo | $236,500 | $754/mo | 52.0 | 26.0% |
| Buchanan County | Affordable$889/mo | $156,600 | $890/mo | 42.6 | 30.0% |
| Cape Girardeau County | Affordable$881/mo | $208,300 | $980/mo | 38.8 | 28.0% |
| Franklin County | Affordable$874/mo | $214,900 | $1,055/mo | 36.6 | 25.0% |
| Pettis County | Affordable$863/mo | $161,500 | $761/mo | 54.1 | 26.0% |
| Callaway County | Affordable$850/mo | $196,200 | $981/mo | 42.0 | 23.0% |
| Lafayette County | Affordable$848/mo | $200,300 | $907/mo | 45.8 | 25.0% |
| Camden County | Affordable$838/mo | $270,700 | $918/mo | 46.1 | 26.0% |
| Benton County | Affordable$823/mo | $164,700 | $618/mo | 68.8 | 29.0% |
| Madison County | Affordable$817/mo | $155,900 | $664/mo | 66.6 | 24.0% |
| Marion County | Affordable$813/mo | $158,100 | $692/mo | 64.8 | 24.0% |
| Scott County | Affordable$809/mo | $143,700 | $823/mo | 56.0 | 26.0% |
| Ray County | Affordable$808/mo | $187,400 | $889/mo | 51.2 | 24.0% |
| Crawford County | Affordable$807/mo | $166,000 | $740/mo | 62.1 | 26.0% |
| Howard County | Affordable$807/mo | $145,300 | $798/mo | 57.8 | 28.0% |
| Cole County | Affordable$804/mo | $214,400 | $950/mo | 48.7 | 22.0% |
| Phelps County | Affordable$801/mo | $194,900 | $796/mo | 58.9 | 32.0% |
| DeKalb County | Affordable$796/mo | $167,500 | $752/mo | 62.7 | 20.0% |
| Laclede County | Affordable$796/mo | $158,000 | $826/mo | 57.8 | 27.0% |
| Polk County | Affordable$792/mo | $189,600 | $805/mo | 59.5 | 29.0% |
| St. Francois County | Affordable$786/mo | $155,100 | $824/mo | 59.1 | 27.0% |
| Carroll County | Affordable$785/mo | $110,500 | $680/mo | 69.8 | 25.0% |
| Lawrence County | Affordable$785/mo | $159,800 | $790/mo | 61.5 | 26.0% |
| Cedar County | Affordable$783/mo | $162,500 | $703/mo | 67.7 | 27.0% |
| Adair County | Affordable$782/mo | $159,500 | $725/mo | 66.5 | 26.0% |
| Mississippi County | Affordable$782/mo | $100,300 | $567/mo | 77.7 | 30.0% |
| Barton County | Affordable$777/mo | $136,000 | $620/mo | 74.5 | 28.0% |
| Newton County | Affordable$777/mo | $175,300 | $875/mo | 56.2 | 23.0% |
| Webster County | Affordable$777/mo | $219,100 | $888/mo | 55.4 | 22.0% |
| Ste. Genevieve County | Affordable$774/mo | $215,600 | $768/mo | 64.2 | 22.0% |
| Butler County | Affordable$768/mo | $138,800 | $685/mo | 71.7 | 28.0% |
| Montgomery County | Affordable$767/mo | $171,300 | $733/mo | 68.2 | 22.0% |
| Moniteau County | Affordable$766/mo | $168,300 | $818/mo | 62.3 | 21.0% |
| Ralls County | Affordable$765/mo | $153,400 | $667/mo | 73.4 | 21.0% |
| McDonald County | Affordable$764/mo | $134,100 | $692/mo | 71.4 | 25.0% |
| Cooper County | Affordable$763/mo | $197,100 | $843/mo | 60.8 | 25.0% |
| Bates County | Affordable$760/mo | $154,800 | $783/mo | 65.2 | 29.0% |
| Nodaway County | Affordable$754/mo | $165,100 | $758/mo | 67.5 | 27.0% |
| Barry County | Affordable$750/mo | $172,900 | $724/mo | 70.6 | 26.0% |
| Livingston County | Affordable$747/mo | $138,300 | $707/mo | 71.8 | 22.0% |
| Pike County | Affordable$742/mo | $129,400 | $615/mo | 79.2 | 24.0% |
| Randolph County | Affordable$742/mo | $141,900 | $795/mo | 66.2 | 29.0% |
| Henry County | Affordable$740/mo | $153,500 | $815/mo | 65.3 | 30.0% |
| Stoddard County | Affordable$737/mo | $135,400 | $690/mo | 74.5 | 24.0% |
| Oregon County | Affordable$735/mo | $117,700 | $560/mo | 83.8 | 32.0% |
| New Madrid County | Affordable$734/mo | $105,500 | $619/mo | 79.8 | 27.0% |
| Saline County | Affordable$733/mo | $139,600 | $799/mo | 67.0 | 30.0% |
| Daviess County | Affordable$731/mo | $149,200 | $696/mo | 74.6 | 24.0% |
| Miller County | Affordable$724/mo | $169,800 | $717/mo | 74.0 | 24.0% |
| Howell County | Affordable$722/mo | $161,000 | $634/mo | 80.4 | 26.0% |
| Vernon County | Affordable$722/mo | $136,700 | $698/mo | 75.6 | 23.0% |
| Macon County | Affordable$719/mo | $127,000 | $693/mo | 76.4 | 27.0% |
| Pemiscot County | Affordable$708/mo | $95,900 | $651/mo | 80.8 | 33.0% |
| Holt County | Affordable$702/mo | $122,300 | $628/mo | 82.7 | 18.0% |
| Hickory County | Affordable$699/mo | $123,200 | $606/mo | 84.2 | 34.0% |
| Audrain County | Affordable$698/mo | $121,600 | $652/mo | 81.5 | 27.0% |
| Morgan County | Affordable$692/mo | $180,400 | $743/mo | 75.0 | 26.0% |
| Sullivan County | Affordable$692/mo | $103,300 | $693/mo | 78.6 | 18.0% |
| Douglas County | Affordable$687/mo | $164,400 | $573/mo | 87.5 | 24.0% |
| Dallas County | Affordable$685/mo | $151,200 | $656/mo | 82.3 | 28.0% |
| Washington County | Affordable$680/mo | $118,400 | $599/mo | 86.0 | 30.0% |
| Grundy County | Affordable$679/mo | $107,000 | $594/mo | 86.6 | 25.0% |
| Bollinger County | Affordable$677/mo | $142,400 | $653/mo | 83.0 | 24.0% |
| Gasconade County | Affordable$671/mo | $168,900 | $695/mo | 80.0 | 21.0% |
| Iron County | Affordable$671/mo | $113,000 | $554/mo | 89.8 | 31.0% |
| Monroe County | Affordable$667/mo | $147,400 | $557/mo | 90.0 | 22.0% |
| Harrison County | Affordable$666/mo | $107,400 | $685/mo | 81.3 | 30.0% |
| Ripley County | Affordable$666/mo | $110,800 | $625/mo | 85.3 | 32.0% |
| Carter County | Affordable$661/mo | $147,600 | $654/mo | 83.9 | 32.0% |
| Knox County | Affordable$661/mo | $97,200 | $619/mo | 86.0 | 20.0% |
| Dade County | Affordable$650/mo | $157,200 | $651/mo | 84.7 | 24.0% |
| Texas County | Affordable$647/mo | $123,300 | $658/mo | 84.4 | 27.0% |
| Osage County | Affordable$644/mo | $205,700 | $698/mo | 81.1 | 24.0% |
| Dunklin County | Affordable$632/mo | $93,800 | $659/mo | 84.9 | 27.0% |
| Wayne County | Affordable$632/mo | $113,100 | $494/mo | 94.4 | 29.0% |
| Caldwell County | Affordable$628/mo | $156,700 | $717/mo | 80.5 | 22.0% |
| Lewis County | Affordable$627/mo | $118,900 | $655/mo | 85.3 | 24.0% |
| Reynolds County | Affordable$627/mo | $119,900 | $490/mo | 94.9 | 21.0% |
| Ozark County | Affordable$626/mo | $156,400 | $494/mo | 94.7 | 23.0% |
| Gentry County | Affordable$620/mo | $123,000 | $716/mo | 80.9 | 19.0% |
| Dent County | Affordable$615/mo | $149,700 | $646/mo | 86.7 | 26.0% |
| Linn County | Affordable$612/mo | $117,300 | $626/mo | 88.0 | 24.0% |
| St. Clair County | Affordable$607/mo | $142,500 | $637/mo | 87.3 | 27.0% |
| Atchison County | Affordable$595/mo | $100,600 | $619/mo | 88.8 | 18.0% |
| Maries County | Affordable$594/mo | $193,100 | $673/mo | 85.4 | 17.0% |
| Clark County | Affordable$589/mo | $117,600 | $564/mo | 92.8 | 25.0% |
| Putnam County | Affordable$575/mo | $111,600 | $802/mo | 76.3 | 36.0% |
| Shelby County | Affordable$570/mo | $86,200 | $631/mo | 88.6 | 22.0% |
| Wright County | Affordable$558/mo | $152,300 | $597/mo | 90.8 | 29.0% |
| Mercer County | Affordable$548/mo | $95,300 | $636/mo | 88.6 | 20.0% |
| Chariton County | Affordable$540/mo | $118,900 | $617/mo | 90.0 | 21.0% |
| Scotland County | Affordable$516/mo | $141,100 | $809/mo | 76.4 | 22.0% |
| Shannon County | Affordable$509/mo | $151,000 | $676/mo | 86.3 | 26.0% |
| Schuyler County | Affordable$382/mo | $118,200 | $628/mo | 89.9 | 18.0% |
| Worth County | Affordable$353/mo | $94,600 | $522/mo | 96.5 | 19.0% |
Compare Missouri to Other States
See how Missouri counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Missouri Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Missouri?
What is the most expensive county to live in Missouri?
How does Missouri's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Missouri?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.