The Missouri rental market
Missouri tracks median rent across 76 cities, ranging from Boonville at $800/mo to Riverside at $1,994/mo. The state average of $1,431/mo runs about 26% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Missouri cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +5.2% over the past year. 2 of 86 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 84 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 2 of 76 Missouri cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
36 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Kirkwood ($1,893/mo) costs 2.3 times as much as Kirksville ($808/mo).
Across 23 Missouri cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 9 of 9 Missouri cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Missouri cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Missouri rent questions
What is the average rent in Missouri?
The average median rent across 76 tracked cities in Missouri is $1,431/mo, about 26% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Missouri city has the highest rent?
Riverside has the highest median rent in Missouri at $1,994/mo.
Which Missouri city has the most affordable rent?
Boonville is the most affordable tracked city in Missouri, with a median rent of $800/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Missouri?
Across Missouri cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +5.2% over the past year.
How does Missouri rent compare to the rest of the country?
2 of 86 tracked Missouri cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 84 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Missouri?
By population, the largest rental markets in Missouri are Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.