Updated · Property tax data: Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates · Transfer tax verified April 2026 · Methodology · Editorial policy
St. Louis County's 1.21% median tax-to-value ratio ranks 730th highest among the 3,134 US counties tracked, placing it in the top 25% highest nationally. Within Missouri's 115 counties, it's the 1st highest. On the county's median home value of $276,800, the typical homeowner pays $3,335 annually in property tax, $1,706 more than the national median of $1,629. Missouri charges no state real estate transfer tax, which keeps closing costs here lower than high-transfer-tax states like New York, Pennsylvania, or Delaware. FEMA data shows 41.7% of St. Louis County's land area falls within a Special Flood Hazard Area, a very high exposure level. Flood insurance is required for federally-backed mortgages in those zones and commonly adds $800–$3,000 per year.
Enter any purchase price to see the full cost breakdown for St. Louis County.
The two rows above, added together: everything due at closing plus your first twelve months of ownership.
Very high flood risk. Over 30% of this county lies in a FEMA flood zone. Flood insurance is required for any federally-backed mortgage in the SFHA. Check your property at msc.fema.gov.
All figures are estimates for planning purposes only. Mortgage payment assumes a 30-year fixed rate of 7.28%, the Freddie Mac PMMS average for the week ending October 1, 2026. Your lender will confirm the actual rate. Closing costs vary by lender and transaction. Consult a licensed real estate attorney and lender before making any financial decisions.
Ways buyers in St. Louis County may reduce their annual property tax. These programs apply statewide; verify county specifics with your local assessor.
Income-based credit up to $1,100 (homeowners) or $750 (renters) for homeowners 65+ or 100% disabled. For 2026, income upper limit rises to $50,000; credit amount up to $1,500 for eligible filers.
View official source →Locally-administered freeze for homeowners 62+ that caps reassessment-driven increases on the primary residence. The base-year tax bill becomes the cap for future years.
View official source →Former prisoners of war with 100% service-connected disability are exempt from property tax on the homestead. Other disabled veterans may qualify for expanded circuit breaker with no income cap beginning 2026.
View official source →Last verified April 2026. Exemption amounts and eligibility change frequently. Always confirm with your county assessor before claiming.
Answers to common questions about buying a home in St. Louis County.
There is no single property tax rate for St. Louis County. The 1.21% figure commonly quoted is a county-wide median: the median annual property tax paid ($3,335) divided by the median home value ($276,800), from 2024 US Census ACS 5-year estimates. It is a statistic describing the county, not a rate levied on any particular property. Your own bill depends on your assessed value, the millage set by your overlapping taxing districts, any homestead or senior exemptions you qualify for, and special assessments. One thing to watch: the median reflects taxes actually paid by current owners, many of whom hold homestead exemptions and assessment caps, so a new buyer paying today's market price often pays more than 1.21% of the purchase price.
No. Missouri does not impose a state real estate transfer tax, which keeps closing costs in St. Louis County lower than in states like New York, Pennsylvania, or Delaware where transfer taxes can add thousands of dollars at closing. Missouri abolished its real estate transfer tax and constitutionally prohibits the state, counties, and political subdivisions from imposing any new tax on real estate transfers (Mo. Const. art. X, § 25).
Yes, substantially. FEMA National Risk Index data shows 41.7% of St. Louis County's land area falls within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Flood insurance is required for any federally-backed mortgage on a property inside an SFHA and commonly adds $800–$3,000 per year. Check your specific property's flood zone at msc.fema.gov before buying.
On St. Louis County's median home value of $276,800 with 20% down, buyer closing costs work out to roughly $4,226–$7,561, or 1.5–2.7% of the purchase price. That covers title insurance $800–$2,000; loan origination fee $1,107–$2,214; home appraisal $400–$700; home inspection $350–$600; recording fees $100–$300; prepaid mortgage interest $662; homeowners insurance (2 months) $250; property tax escrow (2-3 months) $556–$834. Transfer tax is listed separately. These are national ranges for each line item rather than St. Louis County quotes, so treat them as a planning range and use the calculator above for your own purchase price.
Every county-specific figure on this page links to the exact public dataset it comes from. Verify the numbers yourself against the original source.
Source for the $3,335/yr median taxes paid (ACS 2024 5-year estimates, variable B25103_001E).
Source for the $276,800 median home value (variable B25077_001E). The 1.21% effective rate is median taxes paid divided by median home value.
Confirms Missouri has no state real estate transfer tax. Verified April 2026.
Source for the county's flood hazard exposure (coastal and inland flood exposure area as a share of county area).
The national dataset behind the county report, including its technical documentation and release notes.
Look up a specific property's flood zone and insurance rate map before making an offer on a home in St. Louis County.
Closing cost line items are national ranges, not county data. The methodology lists each range's source and the calculator's assumptions (mortgage rate, insurance, PMI).
Missouri property tax exemptions: official sources
Verified April 2026.
What every buyer should read before making an offer.
An HOA capped rentals at 10 of 50 homes and grandfathered the existing landlords. How to find rental restrictions before closing, and what they cost you.
Read the guide →A buyer closed on a house and only then found out about ongoing HOA lawsuits. Six checks you can run yourself before your contingencies expire.
Read the guide →HOA special assessment not on the disclosure? One buyer got a $15,000 bill the day after closing. How to catch it before, and what to do after.
Read the guide →