Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Jefferson City, Missouri
A $208,000 home here costs
$1,689per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,069. The real number is $620 higher every month — 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Jefferson City against Cole County and Missouri
| Measure | Jefferson City | Cole County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $208,000 | $214,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,763 | $1,728 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.848% | 0.806% |
| Median gross rent | $766 | $804 |
| Population | 42,565 | 76,924 |
Jefferson City extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Cole County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Jefferson City sits in Cole County, which averages a high of 88.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.5°F in its coldest, with 39.71" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,456 cooling and 4,589 heating degree days, which is what sets the $123 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Cole County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Cole County
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Jefferson City?
A $208,000 home in Jefferson City, Missouri costs approximately $1,689 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,069 principal and interest, $147 property tax, $108 homeowners insurance, $191 utilities and $173 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Jefferson City?
Jefferson City has an effective property tax rate of 0.848%, based on a median home value of $208,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,763. That is higher than the Cole County average of 0.806%.
What is the average home price in Jefferson City?
The median owner-occupied home value in Jefferson City, Missouri is $208,000, against $214,400 across Cole County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Jefferson City?
Median gross rent in Jefferson City is $766 a month, against $1,689 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Jefferson City — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Missouri.
- Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.