Jefferson County

MissouriPopulation: 226,984
66
/100
Hold
#233 of 1,000 counties
#47 in Missouri (113 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated September 28, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$295,106
Median Home Price
29% above national median
$1,572/mo
Median Rent
8% above national median
6.39%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 40% nationally
-$525
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,572/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.
ScenarioPurchase priceMonthly cash flowCap rateCash-on-cash
75% of median
value-add or distressed
$221,330-$138/mo5.5%-3.3%
Median
typical MLS deal
$295,106-$525/mo4.2%-9.3%
125% of median
newer / premium
$368,883-$912/mo3.3%-12.9%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$295,106
Down Payment (20%)$59,021
Loan Amount$236,085
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,572
Monthly P&I-$1,547
Est. Expenses (35%)-$550
Net Cash Flow-$525/mo
4.2%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-9.3%
Cash-on-Cash Return
6.39%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.2% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
66/100
66
Cash Flow(30%)
64/100

Based on 6.39% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
85/100

Based on 4.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
67/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Complete rent data available

Challenges

  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$525/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 4.2% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population
226,984
Median Income
—
Data pending
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
—
Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +Patient holders willing to accept negative carry for equity gains
  • +All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
Skip if
  • −You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
CassMO
67$326,634$1,7176.31%BuyView
CurrentJeffersonMO
66$295,106$1,5726.39%Buy
DaviessMO
66$275,953Est. pending—BuyView
MonroeMO
65$216,427Est. pending—BuyView
DeKalbMO
65$228,527Est. pending—BuyView
Saint FrancoisMO
65$186,017$1,0196.57%BuyView

Section 8 in Jefferson County: payment standards by ZIP, PHA waitlist status, and voucher counts are on VoucherMatch, the same HUD dataset with the tenant demand side attached.

The Bottom Line

HoldJefferson scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $525/mo at current rates. Consider house hacking, value-add, or all-cash; otherwise a worse score with positive cash flow may be the better deal.

Jefferson County in Missouri scores 66/100, ranking #233 of 1,000 US counties (top 30%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $525/month; the 6.39% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-525/mo
Cap Rate
4.2%
Cash-on-Cash
-9.3%

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