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Buying a home in Centralia, Missouri

The typical owner-occupied home in Centralia is worth about $174,300, 24% below the Missouri median of $230,300 and 48% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,505 a year in property taxes, about 0.86% of their home's value, close to the Missouri rate of 0.85%. The median household earns $66,438 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (3.3 times for Missouri). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 69% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Centralia at a glance

Centralia Missouri U.S.
Median home value $174,300 $230,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,505 $1,948 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.86% 0.85% 0.94%
Median household income $66,438 $70,702 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 72% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 69% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,208 $1,524 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.0% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $685 $1,033 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.3% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1971 1978 1980
Vacant homes 7.1% 11.2% 10.1%
Population 4,690 6,191,814 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Centralia

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Centralia home of $174,300 with 20% down costs about $1,136 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,426, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $48,667 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Centralia household income of $66,438; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $238,000.

The median rent here is $685 a month, so owning the median home costs about $451 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$34,860
Loan amount$139,440
Principal and interest$938
Property taxes (0.86% a year)$125
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$73
PMI$0
Total per month$1,136

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,100
Loan amount$171,143
Principal and interest$1,151
Property taxes (0.86% a year)$125
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$73
FHA mortgage insurance$77
Total per month$1,426

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Questions about home buying in Centralia

What is the median home value in Centralia?

About $174,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Centralia?

Homeowners pay a median $1,505 a year, which is about 0.86% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Centralia?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,136 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $48,667 a year.

More about Centralia

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data