Last updated October 22, 2026
Oakville and Arnold sit on opposite sides of the Meramec River and the county line, and in 2026 that line showed up in two places: price and taxes. The Oakville High area’s median was $385,000 and Arnold’s $305,000. Arnold’s median property tax was $1,741, less than half of Oakville’s $3,720.
An Arnold mailing address doesn’t mean the house is inside Arnold city limits, and Oakville isn’t a city at all. Check the exact address, because it decides the rules that apply when you buy and sell.
Short answers first, from 2026 closed single-family sales: 137 listed in MLS as Oakville High area (January 5 through October 5) and 97 with an Arnold mailing address (January 8 through October 1). Those are the same groups the Oakville and Arnold pages use. These are past sales, not what’s for sale today.
Yes. The Oakville High area’s 2026 median was $385,000 and Arnold’s $305,000, an $80,000 gap. Comparing one-story ranches of similar size, Oakville ran higher too: ranches of 1,200–1,499 sq ft sold for a median $306,000 in Oakville and $255,000 in Arnold.
Yes, by about half. The median annual property tax on 2026 sales was $1,741 in Arnold and $3,720 in the Oakville High area, according to MLS sales records. That’s about $2,000 a year, or roughly $165 a month in a mortgage payment. As a share of price it was about 0.64% in Arnold and 0.99% in Oakville.
Far more chances in Arnold. At $300,000 or less, a 2026 budget reached 47 of 97 Arnold sales (48.5%) and 24 of 137 Oakville High-area sales (17.5%). At that budget the Arnold homes were built at a median 1966 and the Oakville homes in 1963.
At $350,000 or less: 68 of 97 Arnold sales (70.1%) and 53 of 137 in Oakville (38.7%). At $400,000 or less: 74 (76.3%) and 79 (57.7%). By $400,000, Oakville had more homes in reach in total, but a smaller share of its market.
About equally fast. The median days on market (CDOM) was 7 in Oakville and 8 in Arnold. 79 of 137 Oakville sales (57.7%) and 51 of 97 Arnold sales (52.6%) closed above the original list price. The median Oakville sale closed at 101.2% of the original list price; Arnold’s at 100.0%.
Arnold, slightly. Arnold’s median 2026 sale was built in 1987 and Oakville’s in 1979. 22 of 97 Arnold sales (22.7%) were built in 2000 or later, versus 24 of 137 in Oakville (17.5%).
Here’s the share of 2026 sales in each area that closed at or below each price.
| Budget | Oakville High area (137) | Arnold (97) |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | 6 (4.4%) | 24 (24.7%) |
| $300,000 | 24 (17.5%) | 47 (48.5%) |
| $350,000 | 53 (38.7%) | 68 (70.1%) |
| $400,000 | 79 (57.7%) | 74 (76.3%) |
| $500,000 | 107 (78.1%) | 87 (89.7%) |
Below $350,000, Arnold gave a buyer far more chances. Both markets moved fast: 40 Oakville sales (29.2%) and 24 Arnold sales (24.7%) took 30 days or more.
Square footage needs care here. Jefferson County tax records often count only the main floor of a two-story house, and that number can carry into a listing, so I compare one-story ranches, where it matters least. These are 2026 ranch sales.
| Ranch size | Oakville High area | Arnold |
|---|---|---|
| 900–1,199 sq ft | $260,000 (6 sales) | $230,000 (9 sales) |
| 1,200–1,499 sq ft | $306,000 (8 sales) | $255,000 (11 sales) |
| 1,500–1,799 sq ft | $325,000 (11 sales) | $260,000 (9 sales) |
| 1,800–2,199 sq ft | $345,000 (15 sales) | $343,000 (7 sales) |
In the three smaller ranges, the Oakville ranch sold for $30,000 to $65,000 more. In the largest range they were even, and those Arnold ranches were newer (built 1987 vs. 1974). The groups are small, 6 to 15 sales each, so treat them as a guide. Confirm the square footage on any listing you’re serious about.
Across 2026 sales, the median annual property tax was $1,741 with an Arnold mailing address and $3,720 in the Oakville High area. On a typical house that’s about $2,000 a year, which changes what a monthly payment buys. The tax on a listing is the seller’s most recent bill, so confirm the exact address with the county collector before you make an offer: the St. Louis County Collector of Revenue for Oakville and the Jefferson County Collector for Arnold.
Arnold taxes → · Oakville taxes →
| Year built | Oakville High area (137) | Arnold (97) |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1960 | 8 (5.8%) | 9 (9.3%) |
| 1960–1979 | 62 (45.3%) | 34 (35.1%) |
| 1980–1999 | 43 (31.4%) | 32 (33.0%) |
| 2000 or later | 24 (17.5%) | 22 (22.7%) |
Both areas are mostly 1960s-to-1990s houses. I recommend a sewer scope on every St. Louis-area home, whatever its age.
All 97 Arnold-address sales in 2026 were in the Fox C-6 School District; the Oakville High area is in Mehlville R-IX. Confirm the district for the exact address. The rules at sale differ too. Unincorporated St. Louis County, which includes Oakville, requires an occupancy permit when a new occupant moves in. Inside Arnold city limits, the city requires a property maintenance inspection; Arnold-address homes outside the city fall under Jefferson County, which has no resale inspection of its own.
Oakville occupancy rules → · Arnold inspection rules →
What does a three-bedroom house cost in Oakville vs. Arnold?
In 2026 sales, the median three-bedroom home sold for $335,000 in the Oakville High area (69 sales) and $287,000 in Arnold (56 sales).
What does a four-bedroom house cost in Oakville vs. Arnold?
In 2026 sales, the median home with four or more bedrooms sold for $480,000 in the Oakville High area (59 sales) and $406,250 in Arnold (32 sales).
Is an Arnold address inside Arnold city limits?
Not always. Of the 97 Arnold-address sales in 2026, 55 were inside Arnold city limits and 42 were outside. Inside vs. outside Arnold →
This is one piece of the St. Louis home buying process. See how it all fits together:
📚 Complete St. Louis Buyer Guide →
Grew up in South St. Louis, lived in Dogtown for 6 years, now in South County. You'll find us at Wellspring on Lindbergh on Sundays. I'm not selling you a house — I'm showing you how to think about buying or selling a house.