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Buying a home in Meta, Missouri

The typical owner-occupied home in Meta is worth about $96,900, 58% below the Missouri median of $230,300 and 71% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $550 a year in property taxes, about 0.57% of their home's value, lower than the Missouri rate of 0.85%. The median household earns $42,708 a year, so the median home costs 2.3 times the median income (3.3 times for Missouri). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 28% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Meta at a glance

Meta Missouri U.S.
Median home value $96,900 $230,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $550 $1,948 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.57% 0.85% 0.94%
Median household income $42,708 $70,702 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 28% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,071 $1,524 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.7% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $544 $1,033 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 41.7% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1953 1978 1980
Vacant homes 6.1% 11.2% 10.1%
Population 115 6,191,814 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Meta

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Meta home of $96,900 with 20% down costs about $608 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $769, 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 $26,052 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Meta household income of $42,708; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $159,000.

The median rent here is $544 a month, so owning the median home costs about $64 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$19,380
Loan amount$77,520
Principal and interest$521
Property taxes (0.57% a year)$46
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$40
PMI$0
Total per month$608

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,392
Loan amount$95,145
Principal and interest$640
Property taxes (0.57% a year)$46
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$40
FHA mortgage insurance$43
Total per month$769

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Questions about home buying in Meta

What is the median home value in Meta?

About $96,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Meta?

Homeowners pay a median $550 a year, which is about 0.57% 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 Meta?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $608 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $26,052 a year.

More about Meta

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