Missouri's average effective property tax rate is approximately 0.88%–0.91% of assessed home value (multiple sources cluster in the 0.85%–0.93% range depending on methodology: Tax Foundation ~0.89%, SmartAsset ~0.91% in some calculations, propertytaxrates.org 0.88%, PropertyTaxPeek 0.93%). This is meaningfully below the national average of roughly 0.99%–1.06% cited by various trackers, placing Missouri around the #23 spot nationally (middle-tier, on the lower side). Missouri is a local-option state, so actual rates vary enormously by county and taxing jurisdiction — from about 0.34% in Wright County up to roughly 1.14% in St. Louis County, since school districts, municipalities, and special districts each levy their own rates on top of the county rate.
Example: Statewide, the median Missouri homeowner pays approximately $1,887–$1,948 per year in property tax on a median home value of roughly $215,600–$230,300 (figures vary slightly by data source/year, e.g., Tax Foundation-style aggregates vs. Census ACS estimates). Real variation by county is stark: median annual bills range from about $550 in Ripley County to about $3,613 in Platte County, so a homeowner's actual bill depends heavily on which county and school district they're in.
Sources disagree by a few tenths of a percentage point (0.85%–0.93% effective rate; $1,887–$1,948 median bill) because they use different data vintages and methodologies (Census ACS 5-year estimates vs. current assessor rolls vs. Tax Foundation aggregates) — treat any single figure as an approximation, not gospel. The most consequential fact for a Missouri homeowner isn't the statewide average at all: since MO has no blanket homestead exemption, relief is entirely need-based (MO-PTS/MO-PTC income limits) or county-opt-in (SB 190 senior freeze) — so whether you get real relief depends heavily on your county and income, not just your home's value. Check with your specific county assessor/collector for local rates and whether the senior freeze has been adopted locally.
Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.