Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Jefferson City, Missouri
A $208,000 home here costs
$1,791per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $77,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,134. The real number is $657 higher every month, 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Cole County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
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 $160 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Jefferson City averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Jefferson City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Jefferson City I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Jefferson City?
A $208,000 home in Jefferson City, Missouri costs approximately $1,791 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,134 principal and interest, $147 property tax, $108 homeowners insurance, $228 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 $1,791 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Jefferson City?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Jefferson City, Missouri at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $77,000 a year. That covers the full $1,791 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.