Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lawson, Missouri
A $170,000 home here costs
$1,511per 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 $64,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $927. The real number is $584 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Clay County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lawson from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,742 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Clay County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lawson against Clay County and Missouri
| Measure | Lawson | Clay County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,500 | $256,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,498 | $2,817 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.884% | 1.099% |
| Median gross rent | $1,006 | $1,220 |
| Population | 2,742 | 255,566 |
Lawson extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Clay County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Lawson sits in Clay County, which averages a high of 88.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 17.2°F in its coldest, with 41.21" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,266 cooling and 5,342 heating degree days, which is what sets the $160 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Clay County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Clay County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lawson 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 Lawson every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lawson I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lawson?
A $170,000 home in Lawson, Missouri costs approximately $1,511 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $927 principal and interest, $125 property tax, $89 homeowners insurance, $228 utilities and $142 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lawson?
Lawson has an effective property tax rate of 0.884%, based on a median home value of $169,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,498. That is lower than the Clay County average of 1.099%.
What is the average home price in Lawson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lawson, Missouri is $169,500, against $256,400 across Clay County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lawson?
Median gross rent in Lawson is $1,006 a month, against $1,511 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 Lawson?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lawson, Missouri at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,500 a year. That covers the full $1,511 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lawson, 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.