6 Most Affordable Places to Live in Missouri in 2024
With diverse landscapes like the Ozark Mountains to the Missouri River, iconic landmarks like the Gateway Arch and Mark Twain’s hometown, and famous foods like barbecue and gooey butter cake, there are many reasons to love living in Missouri. If you’re considering living somewhere in Missouri then chances are you also have a budget you’re hoping to stay under in your home or apartment search. When it comes to buying a home in Missouri the median home sale price is $271,400.
If that price doesn’t fit into your budget, don’t worry. To help you find the right place to buy a home, Redfin has gathered a list of the 6 of the most affordable places to live in Missouri. And they all have a median home sale price under $271,400. From St. Louis to Kansas City, learn what cities are in the top 6.
#1: St. Joseph
Median home price: $177,900
Average sale price per square foot: $113
Median household income: $48,716
Nearest major metro: Kansas City (55 miles)
St. Joseph, MO homes for sale
St. Joseph, MO apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $177,900, St. Joseph takes the number one spot on our list of affordable places to live in Missouri. About 72,500 people live in this city and it’s roughly 55 miles from the nearest metropolitan city, Kansas City. If you’re considering moving to St. Joseph, make sure to discover some of the museums in town like the Pony Express National Museum or Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, visit one of the many parks, or explore the downtown area.
#2: Joplin
Median home price: $179,900
Average sale price per square foot: $79
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $799
Median household income: $58,769
Nearest major metro: Springfield (75 miles)
Joplin, MO homes for sale
Joplin, MO apartments for rent
Only slightly more expensive than St. Joseph is Joplin, the next city on our list. With roughly 51,800 residents in Joplin, make sure to visit the Grand Falls waterfall, check out the charming downtown area, or explore museums and historic sites like Joplin History & Mineral Museum or Joplin Union Depot.
#3: Florissant
Median home price: $180,000
Average sale price per square foot: $136
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $889
Median household income: $58,769
Nearest major metro: St. Louis (20 miles)
Florissant, MO homes for sale
Florissant, MO apartments for rent
Missouri’s third most affordable city to live in is Florissant, located just north of St. Louis. When living in this city of 52,500 people, you can visit Sunset Park along the Mississippi River and check out downtown Florissant.
#4: Springfield
Median home price: $200,000
Average sale price per square foot: $133
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $758
Median household income: $37,491
Nearest major metro: Kansas City (170 miles)
Springfield, MO homes for sale
Springfield, MO apartments for rent
Next is the city of Springfield, which has about 169,200 residents. The median home sale price is $200,000 which is about $70K less than the median home sale price in Missouri. If you find yourself moving here, visit museums like Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Springfield Art Museum, or the Discovery Center of Springfield, explore the Fantastic Caverns, and check out Pythian Castle.
#5: Independence
Median home price: $219,400
Average sale price per square foot: $138
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $830
Median household income: $58,769
Nearest major metro: Kansas City (10 miles)
Independence, MO homes for sale
Independence, MO apartments for rent
Another great area to add to your list is Independence. With 123,000 people living in this affordable town, Independence is a great option to consider when looking to stay in Missouri without paying the premium for a home in a larger city. Living in Independence, you can check out museums like Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum and National Frontier Trails Museum, hike the Little Blue Trace Trail, or stop by the many historic landmarks and homes throughout Independence.
#6: St. Louis
Median home price: $235,000
Average sale price per square foot: $165
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,312
Median household income: $45,782
St. Louis, MO homes for sale
St. Louis, MO apartments for rent
The final city on our list of most affordable places to live in Missouri is St. Louis, where the home prices are about $35K less than the state’s average. With just about 301,600 people living in St. Louis, it’s a great place to consider buying a house this year. Make sure to stop by the iconic Gateway Arch National Park where you can also find historic exhibits, explore the expansive Forest Park home to Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Science Center. You can also check out the many unique neighborhoods or grab some stellar St. Louis style barbeque. No matter what neighborhood you move to in St. Louis, there are countless things to do in this city.
Methodology: All cities must have over 50,000 residents per the US Census and have a median home sale price under the average median home sale price in Missouri. Median home sale price and median sale price per square foot from the Redfin Data Center during July 2024. Average rental data from Rent.com July 2023. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
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