Missouri county assessors reassess real estate in every odd-numbered year, and residential property is taxed on a fixed share of its market value set by the constitution. The county, the school district, the city and special districts such as fire protection, library and ambulance districts all levy on that value. School levies are usually the largest piece.
Newcomers often meet personal property tax for the first time here. Each year you declare the cars, trucks, boats and trailers you own on the first of January, and the county taxes them along with your house. The state will not renew a vehicle registration without a receipt showing the tax was paid, and moving into Missouri means filing a declaration with the county assessor even before the first bill. Missing that step can hold up registering your car.
Missouri does not offer a general homestead exemption that cuts every owner’s bill. Older and disabled residents with modest incomes can claim the property tax credit, often called the circuit breaker, through the Department of Revenue. A law passed in recent years also lets counties freeze the property tax on a senior’s primary residence, and a growing number have adopted it, so ask the county whether it applies.
The state has no real estate transfer tax and is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices are not public and assessors rely on their own data. Bills are mailed in the autumn and due by the last day of the year. Buyers in St. Louis and Kansas City should also check the city earnings tax, which applies to residents.
Property tax in Missouri
The median Missouri homeowner pays $1,948 a year in property tax on a home valued at $230,300, an effective rate of 0.8459% in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). That ranks the 23rd highest of the 50 states and DC, above the middle state's 0.8003%. At that rate each $100,000 of home value carries about $846 a year of tax, or $70.49 a month in the payment, and that rate is what the calculator above starts from.
Inside Missouri the rate swings widely: the top county pays more than three times the bottom one. Among counties whose survey figures pass both quality checks, the effective rate runs from 0.3691% in Reynolds County to 1.2048% in St. Louis County. On a $230,300 home that gap is worth about $1,925 a year. Pick a county in the calculator to use its rate, or type the rate from a listing or a current tax bill.
The survey rate is what owners actually pay divided by what they say their homes are worth, with exemptions, caps and local levies folded in; it will not match any rate printed in Missouri law. Ask for the seller's latest bill and the assessed value too, since a new owner's assessment can differ from the long-held homes behind the median.
Missouri property tax rates by county
All 115 counties, sorted from the highest effective rate to the lowest. The rate is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, from the ACS 5-year 2020-2024 survey (figures to December 31, 2024). Of these, four carry a flag: where the survey's margin of error is wide or home values hit the survey's top code, the calculator uses the Missouri median instead of that county's figure.
| County | Effective rate | Median home value | Median tax a year | Survey | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 1.2048% | $276,800 | $3,335 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Atchison County | 1.162% | $106,800 | $1,241 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jackson County | 1.1171% | $230,500 | $2,575 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| St. Charles County | 1.0848% | $320,800 | $3,480 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clay County | 1.0671% | $275,600 | $2,941 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Platte County | 1.0469% | $345,100 | $3,613 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| St. Louis city | 1.0294% | $197,500 | $2,033 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Putnam County | 1.0134% | $119,500 | $1,211 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Grundy County | 1% | $112,500 | $1,125 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mercer County | 0.959% | $104,900 | $1,006 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pemiscot County | 0.9536% | $97,000 | $925 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Gentry County | 0.9321% | $134,000 | $1,249 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Harrison County | 0.8886% | $109,500 | $973 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clark County | 0.8676% | $130,700 | $1,134 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Shelby County | 0.8609% | $99,900 | $860 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cass County | 0.8564% | $292,400 | $2,504 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Boone County | 0.8534% | $272,800 | $2,328 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Knox County | 0.8304% | $101,400 | $842 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Marion County | 0.8241% | $162,000 | $1,335 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Worth County | 0.8168% | $96,600 | $789 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Livingston County | 0.8138% | $147,700 | $1,202 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clinton County | 0.8135% | $226,800 | $1,845 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Mississippi County | 0.8073% | $109,000 | $880 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Henry County | 0.807% | $160,600 | $1,296 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Caldwell County | 0.8036% | $166,500 | $1,338 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jefferson County | 0.8035% | $237,200 | $1,906 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ray County | 0.8018% | $198,800 | $1,594 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Monroe County | 0.7984% | $149,300 | $1,192 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Franklin County | 0.7966% | $227,600 | $1,813 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Audrain County | 0.7904% | $143,100 | $1,131 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Schuyler County | 0.7876% | $137,500 | $1,083 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Carroll County | 0.7864% | $117,500 | $924 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Scotland County | 0.7859% | $158,800 | $1,248 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Saline County | 0.7821% | $150,500 | $1,177 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Randolph County | 0.7753% | $159,300 | $1,235 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pettis County | 0.7751% | $166,300 | $1,289 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Nodaway County | 0.7707% | $177,500 | $1,368 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cole County | 0.7705% | $229,600 | $1,769 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Buchanan County | 0.7703% | $166,300 | $1,281 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Adair County | 0.7701% | $165,700 | $1,276 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Howard County | 0.7698% | $159,400 | $1,227 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Callaway County | 0.7679% | $201,600 | $1,548 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| DeKalb County | 0.7595% | $169,200 | $1,285 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Montgomery County | 0.756% | $178,700 | $1,351 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lincoln County | 0.7413% | $244,300 | $1,811 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Perry County | 0.7412% | $188,200 | $1,395 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Gasconade County | 0.731% | $179,900 | $1,315 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ralls County | 0.7307% | $168,200 | $1,229 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lafayette County | 0.7303% | $216,500 | $1,581 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| New Madrid County | 0.7281% | $111,800 | $814 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Andrew County | 0.7279% | $215,400 | $1,568 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Linn County | 0.7202% | $123,300 | $888 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jasper County | 0.7166% | $166,900 | $1,196 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Madison County | 0.7107% | $159,000 | $1,130 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Greene County | 0.7103% | $221,300 | $1,572 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lewis County | 0.7058% | $130,200 | $919 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Barton County | 0.7055% | $136,500 | $963 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Christian County | 0.705% | $274,900 | $1,938 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dunklin County | 0.7049% | $97,600 | $688 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| St. Francois County | 0.7017% | $169,300 | $1,188 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Holt County | 0.6997% | $138,200 | $967 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Warren County | 0.6947% | $260,400 | $1,809 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Macon County | 0.6942% | $149,100 | $1,035 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sullivan County | 0.6877% | $115,600 | $795 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Moniteau County | 0.6844% | $181,900 | $1,245 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Iron County | 0.679% | $119,300 | $810 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Vernon County | 0.6719% | $158,800 | $1,067 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pike County | 0.6705% | $146,000 | $979 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Butler County | 0.6664% | $145,100 | $967 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Johnson County | 0.664% | $235,700 | $1,565 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Daviess County | 0.6595% | $161,800 | $1,067 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cooper County | 0.6555% | $203,500 | $1,334 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stoddard County | 0.6553% | $143,300 | $939 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cape Girardeau County | 0.6439% | $220,700 | $1,421 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Chariton County | 0.6414% | $160,900 | $1,032 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Phelps County | 0.6354% | $206,500 | $1,312 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Newton County | 0.6329% | $190,700 | $1,207 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ste. Genevieve County | 0.6278% | $222,200 | $1,395 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Cedar County | 0.6211% | $168,100 | $1,044 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Scott County | 0.6198% | $154,400 | $957 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dade County | 0.6184% | $170,600 | $1,055 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| St. Clair County | 0.6149% | $157,100 | $966 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pulaski County | 0.6106% | $189,800 | $1,159 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Bates County | 0.6083% | $170,800 | $1,039 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Laclede County | 0.6004% | $168,400 | $1,011 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lawrence County | 0.5894% | $175,100 | $1,032 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Osage County | 0.5853% | $223,300 | $1,307 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Bollinger County | 0.5751% | $179,800 | $1,034 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Miller County | 0.5722% | $192,600 | $1,102 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Crawford County | 0.5632% | $172,600 | $972 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Morgan County | 0.5566% | $194,400 | $1,082 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Washington County | 0.5556% | $129,400 | $719 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Oregon County | 0.5534% | $113,300 | $627 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Polk County | 0.5525% | $205,800 | $1,137 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Taney County | 0.5466% | $218,800 | $1,196 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Benton County | 0.5267% | $177,900 | $937 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Barry County | 0.5261% | $187,800 | $988 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dent County | 0.5242% | $167,500 | $878 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wayne County | 0.5242% | $107,400 | $563 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Webster County | 0.5227% | $228,800 | $1,196 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Maries County | 0.5089% | $219,100 | $1,115 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Howell County | 0.504% | $173,000 | $872 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Texas County | 0.486% | $146,700 | $713 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stone County | 0.4691% | $249,000 | $1,168 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Camden County | 0.4669% | $305,400 | $1,426 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| McDonald County | 0.4602% | $154,700 | $712 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ripley County | 0.4599% | $119,600 | $550 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Douglas County | 0.44% | $168,200 | $740 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Ozark County | 0.4371% | $168,600 | $737 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Shannon County | 0.4292% | $157,500 | $676 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Carter County | 0.4247% | $159,400 | $677 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hickory County | 0.41% | $176,100 | $722 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wright County | 0.3998% | $160,100 | $640 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Dallas County | 0.3973% | $190,300 | $756 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Reynolds County | 0.3691% | $151,700 | $560 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
Worked example: the median Missouri home
The median owner-occupied home in Missouri is valued at $230,300 (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). Put $46,060 down, enough to keep the loan at 80% of the price so no PMI is charged, and borrow the rest over 30 years at 7.4%, the Freddie Mac average for the week of October 15, 2026. Insurance is the calculator's default of $1,500 a year, the same figure on every state page and 8.0% of this payment; real premiums vary widely from state to state and with a home's exposure to wind, flood and wildfire, so replace it with a premium for the Missouri home you are pricing.
| Line | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Principal and interest | $1,275.64 | $15,307.68 |
| Property tax | $162.34 | $1,948.08 |
| Homeowners insurance | $125.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Private mortgage insurance | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total payment | $1,562.98 | $18,755.76 |
Principal and interest dominate the bill; tax and insurance, usually collected through escrow, add $287.34 a month, 18.4% of the total. Over the full term the $184,240 loan costs $274,991 in interest.
With $23,030 down instead, the loan grows to $207,270 and PMI of $86.36 a month is added, for a first payment of $1,808.80. On the regular schedule the PMI stops after 10 years, with the payment in October 2036. A 15-year loan at the 6.71% average, with the larger down payment, raises the monthly figure to $1,913.61 but cuts the interest to $108,490.
What the median Missouri wage can buy
The median annual wage in Missouri is $47,800 (BLS wage survey, May 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, that leaves about $3,274 a month after federal and Missouri paycheck deductions. With $60,000 saved for a down payment and $400 a month of other debts, the home affordability calculator's default 28/36 rule gives this range at 7.4% and the Missouri property tax rate:
| Level | Home price | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $92,926 | $418 |
| Target | $173,611 | $1,034 |
| Stretch | $210,161 | $1,313 |
Here the limit is total debt: the housing payment plus the other $400 a month reaches 36% of gross pay first. The target falls $56,689 short of the $230,300 median home value: the median home costs 4.8 times the median wage, so a typical Missouri purchase usually needs a second income, a larger down payment or a cheaper area.
Everyday costs help: Missouri's prices for goods and rent run 9.2% below the national average, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price parities for 2024 (figures to December 31, 2024). That stretches the median wage to about $52,633 in national dollars.
Missouri mortgage questions
What is the mortgage payment on the median home in Missouri?
The median Missouri home is valued at $230,300 in the Census Bureau's ACS 5-year 2020-2024 figures. With $46,060 down and a 30-year loan at the 7.4% weekly average, the payment is $1,562.98 a month: $1,275.64 of principal and interest, $162.34 of property tax and $125.00 of insurance.
What is the property tax rate in Missouri?
Homeowners in Missouri pay a median of $1,948 a year on a median home value of $230,300, an effective rate of 0.8459%. That is the 23rd highest of the 50 states and DC. It is a measure of what owners actually pay, not a rate set in law, and a new purchase can be taxed differently.
Which Missouri county has the highest property tax rate?
Among counties with reliable survey figures, St. Louis County has the highest effective rate at 1.2048% and Reynolds County the lowest at 0.3691%. On the $230,300 median home, that gap is about $1,925 a year.
How much house can I afford on the median Missouri wage?
On the median wage of $47,800, take-home pay is about $3,274 a month. With $60,000 down and $400 a month of other debts, the 28/36 rule points to a home of about $173,611, against a median home value of $230,300.
Does a smaller down payment change the Missouri payment much?
With $23,030 down on the same home the loan is larger and private mortgage insurance is added, so the payment starts at $1,808.80 a month, $86.36 of it PMI. The PMI stops once the scheduled balance reaches 78% of the original value.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077
- Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, removing PMI
Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac weekly averages as of . Property tax rates: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2020-2024 as of . Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 as of . How we calculate.