Howard County, Missouri Housing Market
In Howard County, Missouri, the median home value is $159,400, with a median monthly rent of $832. This places Howard County at #2031 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #70 within Missouri.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $902
- Establishments: 196
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 6
- Multi-family: 6
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 3,689 (avg $68,542)
- Outflow: 3,563 (avg $69,175)
- IRS Statistics of Income
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💰 Mortgage Guide → 🧾 Property Tax Data →How Howard County Compares
| Metric | Howard County | Missouri Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $159,400 | $175,712 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $832 | $782 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 78.7% | 73.7% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 16.0 | 18.8 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Howard County is 9.3% below the Missouri state average and 30.0% below the U.S. national average. The median rent of $832/month is 6.4% above the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 16.0, the buy-vs-rent decision in Howard County is balanced. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on your time horizon, down payment capacity, and local market conditions.
Howard County has an owner-occupancy rate of 78.7%, compared to 73.7% in Missouri and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more homeowner-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County | Indiana | $159,400 | $697 |
| Carter County | Missouri | $159,400 | $656 |
| Greensville County | Virginia | $159,400 | $969 |
| Jackson County | Alabama | $159,500 | $780 |
| Buena Vista County | Iowa | $159,500 | $894 |
Other Counties in Missouri
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County | $159,400 | $656 | 60.7% |
| Randolph County | $159,300 | $760 | 71.4% |
| Madison County | $159,000 | $808 | 73.7% |
| Vernon County | $158,800 | $734 | 71.3% |
| Scotland County | $158,800 | $511 | 82.4% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).