The typical owner-occupied home in McDonald County is worth about $154,700, 33% below the Missouri median of $230,300 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $712 a year in property taxes, about 0.46% of their home's value, lower than the Missouri rate of 0.85%. The median household earns $52,375 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (3.3 times for Missouri). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 47% of those owners still have a mortgage.
McDonald County at a glance
| McDonald County | Missouri | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,700 | $230,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $712 | $1,948 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.46% | 0.85% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $52,375 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 67% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 47% | 60% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,167 | $1,524 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.3% | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $767 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.2% | 28.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.9% | 11.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 23,701 | 6,191,814 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in McDonald County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median McDonald County home of $154,700 with 20% down costs about $956 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,214, 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 $40,984 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median McDonald County household income of $52,375; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $198,000.
The median rent here is $767 a month, so owning the median home costs about $189 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $30,940 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $123,760 |
| Principal and interest | $833 |
| Property taxes (0.46% a year) | $59 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $64 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $956 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,414 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $151,898 |
| Principal and interest | $1,022 |
| Property taxes (0.46% a year) | $59 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $64 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $68 |
| Total per month | $1,214 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in McDonald County
What is the median home value in McDonald County?
About $154,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in McDonald County?
Homeowners pay a median $712 a year, which is about 0.46% 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 McDonald County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $956 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $40,984 a year.
More about McDonald County
- Mortgage Refinance in McDonald County
- Debt Relief in McDonald County
- Home Equity Loans in McDonald County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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