City Report · MO

Sedalia

Pop. 22,003·66th most expensive in Missouri·Sedalia rents are up 7.6% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,147/mo
Year-over-Year
+7.6%
Month-over-Month
+1.9%
vs US Median
-$785
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Sedalia · $1,147
More affordable than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,147/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$46,000/yr
Local median income
$50,990/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Sedalia's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$700
1 BR
$700
2 BR
$920
3 BR
$1,180
4 BR+
$1,410
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$920/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,147 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Missouri

Rent in Sedalia changed +7.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($50,990) is $1,275 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,180); a 4-bedroom is $1,410.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sedalia. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,764/yr
At $1,147/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 7.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+7.6% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Sedalia, MO is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 16.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
22,003
Median income
$50,990
Median age
37.3
Renters
43.4%
Age distribution
23.7%
23.3%
24.5%
17%
Under 1823.7%
18–3423.3%
35–5424.5%
55–6411.4%
65+17%
Gender
49%
51%
Male49%
Female51%
Race & ethnicity
77.2%
15.1%
White77.2%
Black4%
Hispanic15.1%
Asian1%
Other2.8%
Education (25+)
14%
38.6%
31.1%
16.3%
No HS diploma14%
HS diploma38.6%
Some college31.1%
Bachelor's+16.3%
Housing tenure
56.6%
43.4%
Owner56.6%
Renter43.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Sedalia, MO has changed in 5 years

Income
$44,487 → $50,990
up 14.6%
Population
21,696 → 22,003
up 1.4%
Renter share
41.6% → 43.4%
+1.8 pts
Bachelor's+
15.9% → 16.3%
+0.4 pts
Median age
36.2 → 37.3
+1.1 yrs

Median household income climbed from $44,487 to $50,990 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.6% shift. Census counts show Sedalia, MO adding about 307 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. The renter share has risen from 41.6% to 43.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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View Sedalia rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Sedalia on your salary?

At $1,147/mo, how Sedalia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Sedalia rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Sedalia. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Sedalia

About renting in Sedalia, MO

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Sedalia is $1,147/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $700/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $920/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $700/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,180/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($50,990/yr), Sedalia ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Sedalia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,147/mo in Sedalia. The local median household income is $50,990/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Sedalia?

Rent in Sedalia has risen 7.6% over the past year.

How does Sedalia rent compare to other cities in Missouri?

Sedalia is one of the more affordable among Missouri cities for rent, ranking #66 of 76 tracked cities at $1,147/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Sedalia changed +7.6%, against a typical +4.4% across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sedalia?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Sedalia ($1,147/mo) include Boonville ($800/mo), Knob Noster ($1,069/mo), and Warrensburg ($1,101/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,147/mo, rent takes ~27% of Sedalia's median household income ($50,990/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Sedalia 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–4.7%
Run the Sedalia affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Sedalia
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Sedalia, MO

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