St. Louis home costs, fact by fact
- St. Louis is the first-named city of the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area. (Census Vintage 2024)
- That metro area is the 23rd largest in the United States, with 2,811,927 residents. (Census Vintage 2024)
- St. Louis itself counts 279,695 residents. (Census Vintage 2024)
- The median value of owner-occupied homes in St. Louis is $230,900. (Census ACS 2025 1-year)
- That figure is what owners estimate their home is worth, not a sale price. (Census ACS 2025 1-year)
- The FHFA House Price Index shows Missouri prices up 3.8% and St. Louis metro area prices up 4.2% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026. (FHFA HPI 2026Q2)
- Owners occupy 45.3% of the occupied homes in St. Louis. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Median gross rent in St. Louis is $997 a month. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Homeowners in St. Louis city pay a median $2,033 a year in property tax. (Census ACS 2020-2024; Missouri property tax by county)
- That is 1.03% of the median home value in St. Louis city, its effective property tax rate. (Census ACS 2020-2024)
- Home-purchase mortgages in St. Louis city carried median total loan costs of $4,162 in 2025, across 2,278 loans. (HMDA 2025; St. Louis city loan costs)
- Half of those loans fell between $3,526 and $5,905. (HMDA 2025)
- HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom home is $1,349 a month in its rent area, St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area. (HUD FY 2027)
- Missouri does not tax the transfer of a home in any statute or fee schedule reviewed, and its Constitution (Article X, Section 25) bars any new tax on the sale or transfer of real estate since December 2, 2010. (official sources; Missouri transfer tax)
Calculate for St. Louis
In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of St. Louis is $214,500, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. Under city rules, a Certificate of Inspection is required before an occupied home that has not been inspected in the last 12 months changes hands, and the application costs $120, according to the City of St. Louis Building Division.
How much homes cost in St. Louis
The American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Missouri home prices explains the method in detail.
| Area | Median value, 2024 (ACS) | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| City of St. Louis | $214,500 | ±$13,575 |
| St. Louis County | $300,800 | ±$8,529 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL metro area | $268,300 | ±$3,432 |
| Missouri | $254,400 | ±$2,059 |
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.
St. Louis is an independent city: it is not part of St. Louis County, and the Census Bureau reports it as its own county-level area. The metro area also includes counties on the Illinois side of the river.
Are St. Louis prices rising?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL metro area | +4.2% | +36.0% |
| Missouri | +3.8% | +38.2% |
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.
Closing costs, taxes and legal steps
Rates, fees and rules that apply statewide are explained once in our Missouri guides, so we do not repeat them here:
- Closing costs in Missouri
- Transfer tax in Missouri
- Property tax in Missouri
- Seller disclosure in Missouri
- Do you need a real estate attorney in Missouri?
- Foreclosure in Missouri
- How to verify a license in Missouri
For a given address in the city, the City of St. Louis Assessor’s Office, which assesses and records all property in the city, offers an address and property information search on its website.
A rule specific to the city: the Certificate of Inspection
According to the City Building Division, 100% of property in St. Louis lies in a Housing Conservation District, and the city’s Ordinance No. 71835 requires an inspection of properties in it. A Certificate of Inspection is required before:
- a vacant residential unit is occupied, or
- an occupied structure is sold, if no certificate has been issued in the last 12 months.
A certificate is valid for 12 months. The key details, as the Building Division states them:
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $120 ($200 if the dwelling is found occupied without a current certificate) |
| Credit card payments | Online applications are credit or debit card only, with a 3.5% processing fee |
| Scheduling | Earliest 3 business days after applying, latest 15 days |
| Utilities | Water and electric must be operable at the inspection |
| If violations are found | The owner has 30 days to make repairs; extensions may be granted |
The inspection is a basic code check for minimal interior violations and exterior standards. The Building Division says it is not a guarantee or warranty of the building’s condition, and suggests buyers consider a commercial-grade inspection. See our guide to home inspection costs. Ask your agent or title company who handles the certificate in your contract.
Help for first-time buyers in the city
The city’s HomeSTL program offered first-time buyers up to $50,000 for a home in the city, but SLDC reports all funds reserved as of August 31, 2026. State help from MHDC remains: for the St. Louis area, 2026 income limits start at $113,500 for 1-2 person households. Details are in our Missouri first-time buyer programs article.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in St. Louis?
The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of St. Louis at $214,500 (±$13,575). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.
Are home prices in St. Louis going up?
According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area rose 4.2% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Over five years, they rose 36.0%.
Do I need an inspection to buy a home in St. Louis?
The city requires a Certificate of Inspection before an occupied home is sold, unless one was issued in the last 12 months. It is separate from a private inspection that you can order for your own protection.
How much is the St. Louis Certificate of Inspection?
The application costs $120, or $200 if the dwelling is found occupied without a current certificate, according to the City Building Division. Online payments add a 3.5% card fee.
Is St. Louis part of St. Louis County?
No. The city of St. Louis is an independent city, and the Census Bureau reports it separately from St. Louis County. Its median home value is $214,500, against $300,800 in the county.
More Missouri guides
- Closing costs in Missouri: what buyers and sellers pay
- Real estate transfer tax in Missouri: none, and why
- Property tax in Missouri: rates, assessment and tax credits
- What must a home seller disclose in Missouri?
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Missouri?
- How does foreclosure work in Missouri, and how long does it take?
- Home prices in Missouri and St. Louis: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Missouri and St. Louis
- How to verify a real estate license in Missouri
Sources
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 ACS Data Release Schedule (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA House Price Index datasets, quarterly purchase-only indexes (state, metro) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Apply for a Residential Occupancy Permit (Housing Conservation Inspection) (City of St. Louis Building Division) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Assessor's Office (City of St. Louis) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- HomeSTL Homebuyer Assistance Program (St. Louis Development Corporation) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2026 Income and Purchase Price Limits (Missouri Housing Development Commission, updated May 12, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
Questions about buying a home in St. Louis
How much is property tax in St. Louis?
Homeowners in St. Louis city pay a median $2,033 a year in property tax, 1.03% of the county median home value of $197,500 (Census ACS 2020-2024). Your bill depends on your assessed value and local rates.
What are closing costs on a mortgage in St. Louis?
Home-purchase mortgages in St. Louis city carried median total loan costs of $4,162 in 2025; half of the 2,278 loans fell between $3,526 and $5,905 (HMDA). Total loan costs are the lender and settlement-service charges of the Closing Disclosure; transfer taxes and prepaid items come on top.
Is there a transfer tax when you buy a home in St. Louis?
Missouri does not tax the transfer of a home in any statute or fee schedule reviewed, and its Constitution (Article X, Section 25) bars any new tax on the sale or transfer of real estate since December 2, 2010. In St. Louis a standard deed costs $25 to record for the first page and $5 per extra page.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. Louis?
It depends on your mortgage rate, down payment and how long you stay. As a benchmark, the median value of owner-occupied homes in St. Louis ($197,500) equals 16.5 years of the median gross rent ($997 a month), both from Census ACS 2020-2024.
Run your own numbers: rent vs buy calculator · closing costs calculator.
Professionals by sector of St. Louis
Other large cities: see cities in Missouri.
Data sources for the figures above
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau). ACS 2025 1-year estimates, consulted October 30, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (cbsa-est2024-alldata). Vintage 2024 estimates (July 1, 2024), consulted November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates, incorporated places (sub-est2024). Vintage 2024 estimates (July 1, 2024), consulted November 2, 2026.
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026). House Price Index, 2026Q2, consulted October 30, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25077 (median value), B25064 (median gross rent) and B25003 (tenure). ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, consulted November 2, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25103 (Mortgage Status by Median Real Estate Taxes Paid), B25077 (Median Value) and B25003 (Tenure). ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, 2025 loan-level data (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). 2025 loan-level data, consulted October 19, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, county level data. Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents, consulted October 20, 2026.
- Missouri transfer tax: statutes and official pages read by Payotte. rules in force when read, consulted October 14, 2026.