Cost to Own
United States › Missouri › Phelps County › Rolla Population 20,144 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 $572 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Phelps County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Rolla, Missouri

A $177,000 home here costs

$1,537

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 $66,000 a year.

P&I 63%Tax 7%Insurance 6%Utilities 15%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $965. The real number is $572 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Phelps County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Rolla median: $177,400
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, $141,600 borrowed $965
Property tax0.703% effective rate for Rolla itself $104
Homeowners insuranceMissouri averages $1,340/yr (NAIC), or 0.625% of home value $92
Electricity16.02ยข/kWh, Missouri residential average, EIA $160
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $148
Total monthly $1,537

Rolla against Phelps County and Missouri

MeasureRollaPhelps County
Median home value$177,400$194,900
Median property tax$1,247$1,248
Effective tax rate0.703%0.640%
Median gross rent$790$801
Population20,14444,948

The weather behind that power bill

Rolla sits in Phelps County, which averages a high of 88.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.4°F in its coldest, with 47.38" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,487 cooling and 4,612 heating degree days, which is what sets the $160 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Phelps County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Phelps County

Full Phelps County cost breakdown · Every county in Missouri

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $177,000 home in Rolla, Missouri costs approximately $1,537 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $965 principal and interest, $104 property tax, $92 homeowners insurance, $228 utilities and $148 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Rolla?

Rolla has an effective property tax rate of 0.703%, based on a median home value of $177,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,247. That is higher than the Phelps County average of 0.640%.

What is the average home price in Rolla?

The median owner-occupied home value in Rolla, Missouri is $177,400, against $194,900 across Phelps County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rolla?

Median gross rent in Rolla is $790 a month, against $1,537 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 Rolla?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rolla, Missouri at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $66,000 a year. That covers the full $1,537 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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