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City · 20,287 residents · Phelps County, Missouri

Rolla , Missouri

In Rolla, a typical home is worth $187,000 and typical rent is $789 a month. Compared with all of Phelps County, typical household income is 21% lower, the typical home value is 9% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $187,000

    9% below the county

    19% below Missouri

    • Rolla
    • Phelps
    • Missouri

  • Typical rent

    $789a month

    About the same as the county

    24% below Missouri

    • Rolla
    • Phelps
    • Missouri

  • Typical household income

    $46,204a year

    21% below the county

    35% below Missouri

    • Rolla
    • Phelps
    • Missouri

  • Households that own their home

    39%

    22 points below the county

    29 points below Missouri

    • Rolla
    • Phelps
    • Missouri

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$241,193
4.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$829 a month
4.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Rolla is in Phelps County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Phelps County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Rolla apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Rolla has the 2nd lowest homeownership rate of the 142 cities in Missouri with more than 5,000 people (39%).

  2. Rolla has the 9th lowest typical household income of the 141 cities in Missouri with more than 5,000 people ($46,204).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Rolla

What homes there are in Rolla, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Rolla there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (47%); in Phelps County, 63%.

Year built

In Rolla, half of the homes were built before 1985; in Phelps County, before 1984.

There are fewer big homes in Rolla than in Phelps County: 48% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Rolla sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 73% of rented homes in Rolla cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Phelps County ($973).

With a mortgage

$1,286 a month

Phelps County: $1,383 a month

Without a mortgage

$476 a month

Phelps County: $460 a month

Owners with a mortgage

50%

Phelps County: 53%

Owning costs less in Rolla: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,286 a month; in Phelps County, $1,383. Without one, $476.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Rolla rose 43% since 2015–2019, less than in Phelps County (53%).

Rents in Rolla rose at about the same pace as in Phelps County: 7% since 2015–2019, against 10%.

While home values in Rolla changed +43% and rent +7%, the typical household income rose 23%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRollaPhelps CountyMissouriUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.202.432.402.53
Drive alone 71%72%75%69%
Carpool 16%15%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 6%5%2%3%
Work from home 6%7%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Rolla has 2.20 people, fewer than in Phelps County (2.43).

In Rolla, 71% of workers drive alone to work; in Phelps County, 72%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Rolla?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Rolla, worth $187,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income in Rolla, which is $46,204 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $65,068 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Phelps County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Rolla. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,545 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,518

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$183,613
Total interest
$264,176
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,158 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,078 a month

  • Tight

    $1,078 to $1,386 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,386 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Rolla ($46,204 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,518
Principal & interest$1,244
Property tax$114
Home insurance$78
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$83

You need at least $6,545 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Rolla and Phelps County

Rolla is in Phelps County, Missouri. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Rolla's own numbers

Typical home value
$187,000
Typical monthly rent
$789
Typical yearly household income
$46,204
Households that own their home
39%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Phelps County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$973
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Phelps County.

Everything about Phelps County

Buying

Buying a home in Rolla

A typical home in Rolla is worth $187,000: 9% below the county and 19% below Missouri. With the typical household income in Rolla ($46,204 a year), a typical home costs 4.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Rolla 4.0 years
  • Phelps 3.5 years
  • Missouri 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Phelps County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Phelps County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Phelps County.

Period County Missouri U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.5% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +51% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Rolla next to Phelps County, Missouri and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Rolla $187,000
  • Phelps $206,500
  • Missouri $230,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Rolla $789
  • Phelps $798
  • Missouri $1,033
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Rolla $46,204
  • Phelps $58,396
  • Missouri $70,702
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Rolla next to Phelps County and Missouri
Measure Rolla Phelps County Missouri U.S.
Typical home value $187,000 $206,500 $230,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $789 $798 $1,033 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $46,204 $58,396 $70,702 $80,734
Households that own their home 39% 62% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,360 $1,312 $1,948 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.73% 0.64% 0.85% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 50% 46% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Phelps County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Rolla

For a typical $187,000 home in Rolla, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Rolla's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,518a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,545
    Cash to close
    $12,155
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $83

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,484a month

    Down payment
    $9,350
    Cash to close
    $14,960
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $89

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,205a month

    Down payment
    $37,400
    Cash to close
    $43,010
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,378a month

    Down payment
    $28,050
    Cash to close
    $33,660
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Rolla and for Phelps County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Rolla

0.73%of the home’s value each year

$1,360 a year for the typical owner in Rolla.

  • Rolla 0.73%
  • Phelps 0.64%
  • Missouri 0.85%

What Missouri publishes Deadline to appeal the assessment to the county board of equalization (Missouri Revisor of Statutes (Revised Statutes of Missouri))

Exemptions and deadlines in Missouri

Flood risk in Phelps County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Phelps County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.1%
353
Of those, with NFIP insurance
14%
County Missouri U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.1% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 14% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Rolla

Typical rent in Rolla is $789 a month: about the same as the county. In Rolla, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Phelps County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($973 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.71 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Phelps County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $756 $14.54 $30,240
1 bedroom $781 $15.02 $31,240
2 bedrooms $973 $18.71 $38,920
3 bedrooms $1,299 $24.98 $51,960
4 bedrooms $1,374 $26.42 $54,960

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Rolla

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Rolla has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $970 in 65409 to $1,000 in 65401.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Phelps County ($973).

  • 65401 $1,000$1,330
  • 65409 $970$1,290

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Rolla when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Rolla

HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Rolla. These are the largest.

  • Rolla Apartments 1101 McCutchen Rd, Rolla 65401 150 low-income homes · 1 bd: 143 · 2 bd: 6 · In service since 2017 · For older adults (573) 364-6820
  • Rolla Towers 1440 Forum Dr, Rolla 65401 150 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Rolla · Average payment: $339 a month · Average wait: 13 months (573) 364-6460
  • Oaktree Apts 2003 Forum Dr, Rolla 65401 80 low-income homes · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 40 · In service since 1995
  • Park Meadows 808 Aldi Dr, Rolla 65401 48 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · In service since 2007 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Parkplace Senior Apts 423 Lanning Ln, Rolla 65401 48 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · In service since 2002

See all 9 buildings in Phelps County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Rolla

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Phelps County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Rolla

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Rolla or Phelps County. The ones below are statewide in Missouri: they work in Rolla the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Missouri

  • First Place Loan Program

    Statewide in Missouri

    Missouri state commission mortgage for first-time buyers and veterans, with the option of cash assistance for the down payment and closing costs. Offered by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Next Step Program

    Statewide in Missouri

    Missouri state commission mortgage for buyers who earn more than First Place allows, with a second loan of 4% of the mortgage for the down payment and closing costs that is forgiven after ten years. Offered by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Rolla

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Rolla, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Love Columbia

    1209 E Walnut St, Columbia · 76 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 4 more
    (573) 256-7662

  • The Housing Partnership, Inc.

    729 Lemay Ferry Rd, Saint Louis · 90 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (314) 631-9905

  • Community Action Agency of ST. Louis County, Inc. (CAASTLC)

    2709 Woodson Rd, Saint Louis · 92 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (314) 863-0015

All counseling agencies in Missouri

Help in Spanish near Rolla

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Rolla

HUD’s record names them for Rolla or Phelps County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rolla Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (573) 364-6460
  • Phelps County Public Housing Agency Section 8 vouchers (573) 265-4200

All housing agencies in Missouri Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Rolla, with the typical home value.

Everything about Phelps County Housing in Missouri

Neighboring counties

If Phelps County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Rolla.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Rolla

Short answers with the numbers for Rolla and all of Phelps County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Rolla?

The typical home value in Rolla is $187,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Phelps County it is $206,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Rolla?

Typical rent in Rolla is $789 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Phelps County is $973.

What is the FHA loan limit in Rolla?

Rolla uses the FHA limit for all of Phelps County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Rolla?

The typical homeowner in Rolla pays $1,360 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Phelps County, the rate is 0.64%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Rolla?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Phelps County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).