Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Missouri
The typical rent in Missouri is $1,033 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,250 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $24.04 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Missouri
- Typical rent
- $1,033
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 27% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,250
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $962 to $1,546 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $24.04
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $50,000 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 46%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Missouri, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
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Studio
Wage: $12.88–$24.17 an hour
Lowest: $670 Highest: $1,257
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.13–$26.27 an hour
Lowest: $735 Highest: $1,366
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $18.50–$29.73 an hour
Lowest: $962 Highest: $1,546
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $22.04–$38.85 an hour
Lowest: $1,146 Highest: $2,020
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $24.31–$46.52 an hour
Lowest: $1,264 Highest: $2,419
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Missouri, 46% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
46%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
799,814 renter households in Missouri
- Spend half or more of their income 22%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 23%
- Spend less than 30% 54%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Missouri. Highest fair market rent first.
| Platte County | $1,546 | $1,334 | $29.73 | 41% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | $1,546 | $1,243 | $29.73 | 45% |
| Cass County | $1,546 | $1,205 | $29.73 | 46% |
| Jackson County | $1,546 | $1,197 | $29.73 | 51% |
| Clinton County | $1,546 | $1,008 | $29.73 | 34% |
| Lafayette County | $1,546 | $928 | $29.73 | 40% |
| Ray County | $1,546 | $782 | $29.73 | 42% |
| Caldwell County | $1,546 | $640 | $29.73 | 21% |
| St. Charles County | $1,349 | $1,370 | $25.94 | 42% |
| St. Louis County | $1,349 | $1,209 | $25.94 | 48% |
| City of St. Louis | $1,349 | $997 | $25.94 | 46% |
| Warren County | $1,349 | $995 | $25.94 | 41% |
| Jefferson County | $1,349 | $979 | $25.94 | 39% |
| Lincoln County | $1,349 | $961 | $25.94 | 37% |
| Franklin County | $1,349 | $893 | $25.94 | 40% |
| Pulaski County | $1,175 | $1,112 | $22.60 | 34% |
| Jasper County | $1,153 | $973 | $22.17 | 49% |
| Newton County | $1,153 | $817 | $22.17 | 38% |
| Taney County | $1,126 | $926 | $21.65 | 45% |
| Callaway County | $1,123 | $887 | $21.60 | 37% |
| Christian County | $1,113 | $1,058 | $21.40 | 41% |
| Greene County | $1,113 | $989 | $21.40 | 46% |
| Webster County | $1,113 | $789 | $21.40 | 33% |
| Andrew County | $1,101 | $961 | $21.17 | 39% |
| Buchanan County | $1,101 | $902 | $21.17 | 50% |
| DeKalb County | $1,101 | $817 | $21.17 | 27% |
| Bates County | $1,098 | $786 | $21.12 | 51% |
| Boone County | $1,076 | $1,088 | $20.69 | 49% |
| Pettis County | $1,068 | $885 | $20.54 | 43% |
| Madison County | $1,063 | $808 | $20.44 | 41% |
| Marion County | $1,060 | $808 | $20.38 | 41% |
| Perry County | $1,045 | $923 | $20.10 | 56% |
| Johnson County | $1,033 | $932 | $19.87 | 41% |
| Camden County | $1,033 | $876 | $19.87 | 40% |
| Stone County | $1,032 | $896 | $19.85 | 44% |
| Scott County | $1,027 | $873 | $19.75 | 44% |
| Pike County | $1,025 | $778 | $19.71 | 35% |
| Macon County | $1,018 | $672 | $19.58 | 44% |
| Cape Girardeau County | $1,012 | $881 | $19.46 | 46% |
| Bollinger County | $1,012 | $694 | $19.46 | 45% |
| Benton County | $1,003 | $773 | $19.29 | 50% |
| Worth County | $1,003 | $381 | $19.29 | — |
| Laclede County | $998 | $809 | $19.19 | 40% |
| Dent County | $998 | $660 | $19.19 | 41% |
| Vernon County | $994 | $734 | $19.12 | 35% |
| Nodaway County | $991 | $786 | $19.06 | 45% |
| Howard County | $990 | $832 | $19.04 | 42% |
| St. Francois County | $988 | $794 | $19.00 | 40% |
| Schuyler County | $979 | $382 | $18.83 | 20% |
| Lawrence County | $976 | $800 | $18.77 | 44% |
| Ste. Genevieve County | $974 | $780 | $18.73 | 27% |
| Phelps County | $973 | $798 | $18.71 | 50% |
| Miller County | $973 | $763 | $18.71 | 30% |
| Mercer County | $973 | $590 | $18.71 | 29% |
| Ralls County | $969 | $749 | $18.63 | 28% |
| Moniteau County | $963 | $735 | $18.52 | 33% |
| Cole County | $962 | $834 | $18.50 | 35% |
| Carroll County | $962 | $822 | $18.50 | 35% |
| Polk County | $962 | $814 | $18.50 | 46% |
| Barton County | $962 | $805 | $18.50 | 47% |
| Crawford County | $962 | $795 | $18.50 | 39% |
| Montgomery County | $962 | $788 | $18.50 | 33% |
| Cooper County | $962 | $782 | $18.50 | 37% |
| Butler County | $962 | $780 | $18.50 | 50% |
| Adair County | $962 | $772 | $18.50 | 40% |
| Henry County | $962 | $768 | $18.50 | 53% |
| Livingston County | $962 | $768 | $18.50 | 33% |
| Cedar County | $962 | $767 | $18.50 | 46% |
| McDonald County | $962 | $767 | $18.50 | 36% |
| Barry County | $962 | $766 | $18.50 | 43% |
| Mississippi County | $962 | $762 | $18.50 | 46% |
| Randolph County | $962 | $760 | $18.50 | 46% |
| Stoddard County | $962 | $760 | $18.50 | 30% |
| Gasconade County | $962 | $743 | $18.50 | 42% |
| Saline County | $962 | $739 | $18.50 | 49% |
| Howell County | $962 | $733 | $18.50 | 45% |
| New Madrid County | $962 | $729 | $18.50 | 43% |
| Morgan County | $962 | $721 | $18.50 | 43% |
| Harrison County | $962 | $703 | $18.50 | 47% |
| Douglas County | $962 | $700 | $18.50 | 41% |
| Daviess County | $962 | $696 | $18.50 | 30% |
| Grundy County | $962 | $696 | $18.50 | 35% |
| Pemiscot County | $962 | $695 | $18.50 | 57% |
| Audrain County | $962 | $693 | $18.50 | 48% |
| Monroe County | $962 | $689 | $18.50 | 31% |
| Washington County | $962 | $684 | $18.50 | 55% |
| Dade County | $962 | $683 | $18.50 | 31% |
| Sullivan County | $962 | $673 | $18.50 | 29% |
| Knox County | $962 | $666 | $18.50 | 21% |
| Texas County | $962 | $665 | $18.50 | 43% |
| Wayne County | $962 | $665 | $18.50 | 49% |
| Iron County | $962 | $664 | $18.50 | 46% |
| Carter County | $962 | $656 | $18.50 | 50% |
| Reynolds County | $962 | $655 | $18.50 | 24% |
| Ripley County | $962 | $654 | $18.50 | 64% |
| Holt County | $962 | $650 | $18.50 | 19% |
| Dunklin County | $962 | $648 | $18.50 | 39% |
| Hickory County | $962 | $648 | $18.50 | 59% |
| Lewis County | $962 | $644 | $18.50 | 32% |
| Dallas County | $962 | $642 | $18.50 | 35% |
| Oregon County | $962 | $639 | $18.50 | 59% |
| Osage County | $962 | $639 | $18.50 | 38% |
| Gentry County | $962 | $636 | $18.50 | 32% |
| Atchison County | $962 | $631 | $18.50 | 27% |
| Ozark County | $962 | $631 | $18.50 | 41% |
| Shelby County | $962 | $625 | $18.50 | 29% |
| Wright County | $962 | $625 | $18.50 | 44% |
| St. Clair County | $962 | $622 | $18.50 | 44% |
| Linn County | $962 | $620 | $18.50 | 35% |
| Clark County | $962 | $612 | $18.50 | 36% |
| Maries County | $962 | $590 | $18.50 | 31% |
| Shannon County | $962 | $574 | $18.50 | 28% |
| Chariton County | $962 | $567 | $18.50 | 35% |
| Putnam County | $962 | $521 | $18.50 | 48% |
| Scotland County | $962 | $511 | $18.50 | 30% |
- Platte $1,546$29.73
- Clay $1,546$29.73
- Cass $1,546$29.73
- Jackson $1,546$29.73
- Clinton $1,546$29.73
- Lafayette $1,546$29.73
- Ray $1,546$29.73
- Caldwell $1,546$29.73
- St. Charles $1,349$25.94
- St. Louis $1,349$25.94
- St. Louis $1,349$25.94
- Warren $1,349$25.94
- Jefferson $1,349$25.94
- Lincoln $1,349$25.94
- Franklin $1,349$25.94
- Pulaski $1,175$22.60
- Jasper $1,153$22.17
- Newton $1,153$22.17
- Taney $1,126$21.65
- Callaway $1,123$21.60
- Christian $1,113$21.40
- Greene $1,113$21.40
- Webster $1,113$21.40
- Andrew $1,101$21.17
- Buchanan $1,101$21.17
- DeKalb $1,101$21.17
- Bates $1,098$21.12
- Boone $1,076$20.69
- Pettis $1,068$20.54
- Madison $1,063$20.44
- Marion $1,060$20.38
- Perry $1,045$20.10
- Johnson $1,033$19.87
- Camden $1,033$19.87
- Stone $1,032$19.85
- Scott $1,027$19.75
- Pike $1,025$19.71
- Macon $1,018$19.58
- Cape Girardeau $1,012$19.46
- Bollinger $1,012$19.46
- Benton $1,003$19.29
- Worth $1,003$19.29
- Laclede $998$19.19
- Dent $998$19.19
- Vernon $994$19.12
- Nodaway $991$19.06
- Howard $990$19.04
- St. Francois $988$19.00
- Schuyler $979$18.83
- Lawrence $976$18.77
- Ste. Genevieve $974$18.73
- Phelps $973$18.71
- Miller $973$18.71
- Mercer $973$18.71
- Ralls $969$18.63
- Moniteau $963$18.52
- Cole $962$18.50
- Carroll $962$18.50
- Polk $962$18.50
- Barton $962$18.50
- Crawford $962$18.50
- Montgomery $962$18.50
- Cooper $962$18.50
- Butler $962$18.50
- Adair $962$18.50
- Henry $962$18.50
- Livingston $962$18.50
- Cedar $962$18.50
- McDonald $962$18.50
- Barry $962$18.50
- Mississippi $962$18.50
- Randolph $962$18.50
- Stoddard $962$18.50
- Gasconade $962$18.50
- Saline $962$18.50
- Howell $962$18.50
- New Madrid $962$18.50
- Morgan $962$18.50
- Harrison $962$18.50
- Douglas $962$18.50
- Daviess $962$18.50
- Grundy $962$18.50
- Pemiscot $962$18.50
- Audrain $962$18.50
- Monroe $962$18.50
- Washington $962$18.50
- Dade $962$18.50
- Sullivan $962$18.50
- Knox $962$18.50
- Texas $962$18.50
- Wayne $962$18.50
- Iron $962$18.50
- Carter $962$18.50
- Reynolds $962$18.50
- Ripley $962$18.50
- Holt $962$18.50
- Dunklin $962$18.50
- Hickory $962$18.50
- Lewis $962$18.50
- Dallas $962$18.50
- Oregon $962$18.50
- Osage $962$18.50
- Gentry $962$18.50
- Atchison $962$18.50
- Ozark $962$18.50
- Shelby $962$18.50
- Wright $962$18.50
- St. Clair $962$18.50
- Linn $962$18.50
- Clark $962$18.50
- Maries $962$18.50
- Shannon $962$18.50
- Chariton $962$18.50
- Putnam $962$18.50
- Scotland $962$18.50
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Missouri
What Missouri law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- How much can they charge for a deposit?
- Up to 2 months of rent
- Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300.1
- When must they return my deposit?
- 30 days
- Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300.3
- Only a court order can remove youMo. Rev. Stat. §441.233.1
- Repair and deduct from the rentMo. Rev. Stat. §441.234.1-.2
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Missouri
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
18 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 4 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Missouri is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Platte County ($1,546, about $29.73 an hour) and the cheapest Cole County ($962, about $18.50 an hour).
How many households in Missouri spend too much on rent?
46% of renter households in Missouri spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 22% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Missouri, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $962 to $1,546 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Missouri?
123 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Missouri; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.