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Buying a home in Jefferson City, Missouri

The typical owner-occupied home in Jefferson City is worth about $218,700, 5% below the Missouri median of $230,300 and 34% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,751 a year in property taxes, about 0.80% of their home's value, lower than the Missouri rate of 0.85%. The median household earns $66,371 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.3 times for Missouri). 59% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Jefferson City at a glance

Jefferson City Missouri U.S.
Median home value $218,700 $230,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,751 $1,948 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.80% 0.85% 0.94%
Median household income $66,371 $70,702 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 59% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 59% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,380 $1,524 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.5% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $802 $1,033 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.2% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1978 1978 1980
Vacant homes 9.4% 11.2% 10.1%
Population 42,488 6,191,814 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Jefferson City

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jefferson City home of $218,700 with 20% down costs about $1,414 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,778, 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 $60,596 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Jefferson City household income of $66,371; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $240,000.

The median rent here is $802 a month, so owning the median home costs about $612 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$43,740
Loan amount$174,960
Principal and interest$1,177
Property taxes (0.80% a year)$146
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$91
PMI$0
Total per month$1,414

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,654
Loan amount$214,739
Principal and interest$1,445
Property taxes (0.80% a year)$146
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$91
FHA mortgage insurance$97
Total per month$1,778

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Questions about home buying in Jefferson City

What is the median home value in Jefferson City?

About $218,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Jefferson City?

Homeowners pay a median $1,751 a year, which is about 0.80% 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 Jefferson City?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,414 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $60,596 a year.

More about Jefferson City

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