Cost to Own
United States › Missouri › Clay County › Liberty Population 30,446 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $847 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Clay County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Liberty, Missouri

A $268,000 home here costs

$2,308

per 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 $99,000 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 11%Insurance 6%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,461. The real number is $847 higher every month, 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Clay County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Liberty median: $267,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MO average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $214,400 borrowed $1,461
Property tax1.146% effective rate for Liberty itself $256
Homeowners insuranceMissouri averages $1,340/yr (NAIC), or 0.625% of home value $140
Electricity16.02ยข/kWh, Missouri residential average, EIA $160
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $223
Total monthly $2,308

Liberty against Clay County and Missouri

MeasureLibertyClay County
Median home value$267,900$256,400
Median property tax$3,069$2,817
Effective tax rate1.146%1.099%
Median gross rent$1,164$1,220
Population30,446255,566

The weather behind that power bill

Liberty 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

Full Clay County cost breakdown · Every county in Missouri

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Liberty 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 Liberty every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Liberty I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Liberty?

A $268,000 home in Liberty, Missouri costs approximately $2,308 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,461 principal and interest, $256 property tax, $140 homeowners insurance, $228 utilities and $223 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Liberty?

Liberty has an effective property tax rate of 1.146%, based on a median home value of $267,900 and median real estate taxes of $3,069. That is higher than the Clay County average of 1.099%.

What is the average home price in Liberty?

The median owner-occupied home value in Liberty, Missouri is $267,900, against $256,400 across Clay County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Liberty?

Median gross rent in Liberty is $1,164 a month, against $2,308 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 Liberty?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Liberty, Missouri at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $99,000 a year. That covers the full $2,308 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Liberty, 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.

Full methodology