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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Missouri using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Sprin…
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $1,209 | 10% | 71 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $1,313 | 11% | 77 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $1,326 | 11% | 77 | Details |
| 4 | Kansas | $1,418 | 11% | 83 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Springfield — cost index 71, rent $1,209/mo, income $45,984
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Missouri using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Springfield comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Real talk: the #1 spot goes to Springfield, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,209/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — — saving renters $8,232 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 71, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 94. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Springfield ($1,209/mo, 10%), Independence ($1,313/mo, 11%), St Louis ($1,326/mo, 11%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $102,283 to $102,283/year across these top picks.
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Worth noting: State context matters: Missouri's 4 cities average a 77 cost index with $1,317/month median rent and $57,048 household income. Two major metros with small-city price tags. The FAQ section goes deeper on this.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $102,283 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $102,283 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $102,283 |
4Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $102,283 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Springfield has increased from $1,177 to $1,209/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
112,544 residents · Missouri
A closer look at Springfield: the cost index of 71 breaks down to a Housing index of 71 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 94 (weakest). Median rent is $1,209/month — 36% below the national median — while household income sits at $45,984, meaning locals spend about 32% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
120,922 residents · Missouri
The #2 spot goes to Independence, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,313/month — saving renters $6,984 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 77, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. A 26% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
281,754 residents · Missouri
Dive into St Louis's numbers: cost index 77 (34 points below national average), rent $1,326/month, income $55,279, and a home price of $179,917. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 77, while Healthcare runs 95. With 281,754 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
152,933 residents · Missouri
The #4 spot goes to Kansas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,418/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — — saving renters $5,724 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 83, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 97. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone (we double-checked this one).
Springfield ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 71 and median income of $45,984.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Springfield, rent would consume about 10% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Springfield (ranked #1) has a cost index of 71 and rent of $1,209/mo, while Kansas (ranked #4) has a cost index of 83 and rent of $1,418/mo — a 12-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Springfield is $1,209/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $686 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.8% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Springfield is approximately $102,283/year ($8,524/month). After median rent of $1,209/month, you'd have roughly $87,775/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Springfield is $238,992, which is 5.2× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Missouri has a 4.8% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.335%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.88%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.