Jefferson County, Missouri.
16 communities. 15 ZIP codes. 12 school districts. More than half of 2026 sales were outside any city limits. The mistake is treating a Jefferson County mailing address like a city: an Arnold, Festus or Imperial address doesn’t tell you the city, the school district or whose rules apply when you sell.
Jefferson County Home Buying Questions, Answered With 2026 Sales
Short answers first. Each one links to the detail further down the page or on the page that covers it in full.
What is Jefferson County, Missouri?
Jefferson County is the county directly south of St. Louis County, across the Meramec River, and Hillsboro is the county seat. In 2026 there were 758 single-family resales in this guide’s data, spread across 16 communities by mailing address and 12 school districts with more than one sale. More than half of those sales (413) were outside any city or Census-designated place.
How much does a house cost in Jefferson County?
The 2026 median sale price countywide was $305,000. By mailing address, community medians ran from $222,000 in De Soto to $469,900 on the Jefferson County side of Eureka, with Byrnes Mill higher still on a small sample of 11 sales.
What are the most affordable areas in Jefferson County?
By 2026 median sale price: De Soto ($222,000); Crystal City ($225,000); Barnhart ($268,500); Pevely ($272,000). De Soto and Crystal City also had the oldest and smallest homes on median: built 1971 and 1950, at 1,260 and 1,373 square feet.
How fast do homes sell in Jefferson County?
The countywide median was 18.5 days on market in 2026, but it varied a lot by community: Barnhart 5 days, Arnold 8 days, Fenton 9 days, against Hillsboro 41.5, Cedar Hill 38, Dittmer 36.
Can I buy a house in Jefferson County for $300,000?
Yes. Countywide, 369 of 758 sales in 2026 (48.7%) closed at $300,000 or less. By community it ranged from 17 of 21 in Crystal City and 55 of 69 in De Soto to 20 of 64 in Hillsboro and 3 of 23 on the Jefferson County side of Eureka.
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What does $400,000 buy in Jefferson County?
Most of the market. Countywide, 571 of 758 sales in 2026 (75.3%) closed at $400,000 or less, including every sale in Crystal City and Herculaneum. The exceptions were the Jefferson County side of Eureka (9 of 23) and Byrnes Mill (3 of 11).
Which Jefferson County communities have the most home sales?
By mailing address: Festus (106), Arnold (97), Imperial (96), De Soto (69), Hillsboro (64) had the most 2026 sales.
Do Jefferson County homes sell over asking price?
Less often than in South County. Countywide, 292 of 758 sales in 2026 (38.5%) closed above the original list price. Arnold was highest, at 51 of 97 (52.6%), and Hillsboro lowest, at 14 of 64 (21.9%).
How old are most homes in Jefferson County?
Newer than South County’s. The countywide median year built in 2026 sales was 1993. Crystal City (1950) and De Soto (1971) had the oldest homes on median; Herculaneum (2009) and the Jefferson County side of Eureka (2021) the newest.
How big is a typical Jefferson County house?
The countywide median was 1,728 square feet in 2026 sales. By community it ran from 1,260 in De Soto to 2,859 in Byrnes Mill.
Are most Jefferson County homes ranches?
About half. 380 of 758 sales in 2026 (50.1%) were ranch-style.
What ZIP codes are in Jefferson County?
This guide’s 16 communities use 15 ZIP codes, from 63010 (Arnold) to 63070 (Pevely). ZIP codes follow mailing addresses, not city limits or school districts, so check the exact address.
Which Jefferson County towns are incorporated cities?
Arnold, Festus, Crystal City, Herculaneum, Pevely, Hillsboro, De Soto and Byrnes Mill are cities, along with smaller incorporated places such as Kimmswick, Olympian Village, Scotsdale, Parkdale, Peaceful Village and Cedar Hill Lakes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Imperial, Barnhart, High Ridge, House Springs and Cedar Hill are unincorporated, with no city government.
Does an Arnold address mean the home is in the City of Arnold?
Not always. Of the 97 sales with an Arnold mailing address in 2026, 55 were inside Arnold city limits and 42 were in unincorporated Jefferson County. The same is true of Festus (60 of 106 inside city limits), De Soto (34 of 69) and Hillsboro (18 of 64).
Do I need an occupancy inspection to sell a house in Jefferson County?
It depends on where the house is. The City of Arnold requires a property maintenance inspection before a home is sold or a new occupant moves in, the cities of Festus and De Soto issue a certificate of occupancy for a house being sold after an inspection, and Byrnes Mill requires an occupancy inspection before a sale. Jefferson County itself has no resale inspection for unincorporated areas, but some fire protection districts, such as Rock Community Fire Protection District, inspect at a change of ownership.
What is the Jefferson County side of Fenton?
Homes with a Fenton mailing address south of the Meramec are in unincorporated Jefferson County, not the City of Fenton, which is in St. Louis County. All 51 of the 2026 sales with a Jefferson County Fenton address were outside city limits; 32 were in Fox C-6 and 19 in Northwest R-I, with a $350,500 median.
Which school districts serve Jefferson County?
Twelve districts had more than one 2026 sale: Fox C-6, Northwest R-I, Hillsboro R-III, Festus R-VI, De Soto 73, Windsor C-1, Dunklin R-V, Crystal City 47, the Jefferson County part of Rockwood R-VI, Jefferson R-VII, Sunrise R-IX and Grandview R-II. District lines don’t follow mailing addresses: Imperial, Festus, Fenton and Barnhart addresses each crossed more than one district.
Which school district is Imperial in?
Two. In 2026, 57 Imperial sales were in Fox C-6 and 39 in Windsor C-1.
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
The median annual property tax on homes sold in 2026 was $2,084, according to MLS sales records, with district medians from $1,037 in Crystal City 47 to $5,019 in the Jefferson County part of Rockwood R-VI. The tax on a listing is the seller’s most recent bill, so use these medians to compare areas, then confirm the exact address with the Jefferson County Collector of Revenue before you make an offer.
What are the main roads in Jefferson County?
I-55 runs north–south along the eastern side through Arnold, Imperial, Barnhart, Pevely and Festus, alongside U.S. 61/67. Route 141 starts in Arnold and runs north to Fenton. Route 21 runs south to Hillsboro and De Soto, and Route 30 runs southwest through High Ridge, Byrnes Mill and Cedar Hill.
Source: MLS closed single-family resales in Jefferson County, January 1–October 5, 2026: vacant or owner-occupied homes, excluding new construction and tenant-occupied properties (758 sales). Communities are grouped by mailing address; city-limit counts use U.S. Census Bureau 2024 place boundaries.
How Do the Jefferson County Communities Compare?
One table with each community’s 2026 median sale price, number of sales, typical time on market, school district split and how many sales were inside city limits. Communities are grouped by mailing address, the way listings show them.
| Community | Median price | Sales | Median days on market | School districts (2026 sales) | Inside city limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Soto | $222,000 | 69 | 30 | De Soto 73 53, Sunrise R-IX 10, Hillsboro R-III 4, Grandview R-II 1, Kingston K-14 1 | 34 of 69 |
| Crystal City | $225,000 | 21 | 16 | Crystal City 47 | 21 of 21 |
| Barnhart | $268,500 | 26 | 5 | Windsor C-1 19, Fox C-6 5, Dunklin R-V 2 | Unincorporated |
| Pevely | $272,000 | 25 | 18 | Dunklin R-V 24, Hillsboro R-III 1 | 17 of 25 |
| House Springs | $283,500 | 33 | 28 | Northwest R-I 27, Fox C-6 5, Hillsboro R-III 1 | Unincorporated |
| Cedar Hill | $286,000 | 31 | 38 | Northwest R-I 27, Hillsboro R-III 4 | Unincorporated |
| Festus | $295,000 | 106 | 28 | Festus R-VI 75, Jefferson R-VII 19, De Soto 73 5, Hillsboro R-III 5, Crystal City 47 2 | 60 of 106 |
| Arnold | $305,000 | 97 | 8 | Fox C-6 | 55 of 97 |
| High Ridge | $318,950 | 54 | 14 | Northwest R-I 51, Fox C-6 3 | Unincorporated |
| Herculaneum | $319,900 | 19 | 18 | Dunklin R-V 16, Festus R-VI 3 | 19 of 19 |
| Fenton (Jefferson Co. side) | $350,500 | 51 | 9 | Fox C-6 32, Northwest R-I 19 | None (City of Fenton is in St. Louis County) |
| Imperial | $354,500 | 96 | 16.5 | Fox C-6 57, Windsor C-1 39 | Unincorporated |
| Hillsboro | $357,500 | 64 | 41.5 | Hillsboro R-III 61, Grandview R-II 2, Fox C-6 1 | 18 of 64 |
| Dittmer | $383,500 | 10 | 36 | Northwest R-I 6, Grandview R-II 4 | Unincorporated |
| Eureka (Jefferson Co. side) | $469,900 | 23 | 23 | Rockwood R-VI 19, Northwest R-I 4 | 11 of 23 |
| Byrnes Mill | $484,050 | 11 | 26 | Northwest R-I | 10 of 11 |
Days on market is cumulative (CDOM). Byrnes Mill (11 sales) and Dittmer (10) are small samples. “Unincorporated” means the community has no city government. Fenton and Eureka rows cover only the Jefferson County side.
What Did the Typical Jefferson County House Look Like in 2026?
| Community | Median year built | Median sq ft | Ranch-style | Sold above original list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Soto | 1971 | 1,260 | 29 (42.0%) | 25 (36.2%) |
| Crystal City | 1950 | 1,373 | 7 (33.3%) | 9 (42.9%) |
| Barnhart | 1979 | 1,961 | 11 (42.3%) | 12 (46.2%) |
| Pevely | 2001 | 1,437 | 9 (36.0%) | 10 (40.0%) |
| House Springs | 1997 | 1,722 | 21 (63.6%) | 11 (33.3%) |
| Cedar Hill | 1993 | 1,377 | 10 (32.3%) | 12 (38.7%) |
| Festus | 1987 | 1,759 | 58 (54.7%) | 36 (34.0%) |
| Arnold | 1987 | 1,633 | 48 (49.5%) | 51 (52.6%) |
| High Ridge | 1988 | 2,072 | 27 (50.0%) | 19 (35.2%) |
| Herculaneum | 2009 | 1,691 | 13 (68.4%) | 5 (26.3%) |
| Fenton | 2003 | 1,892 | 24 (47.1%) | 20 (39.2%) |
| Imperial | 1999 | 1,872 | 44 (45.8%) | 44 (45.8%) |
| Hillsboro | 2002 | 1,916 | 36 (56.2%) | 14 (21.9%) |
| Dittmer | 1989 | 2,329 | 5 (50.0%) | 5 (50.0%) |
| Eureka | 2021 | 2,092 | 14 (60.9%) | 9 (39.1%) |
| Byrnes Mill | 2003 | 2,859 | 9 (81.8%) | 5 (45.5%) |
Square footage is reported living area. “Sold above original list” compares the sale price with the first asking price. Condition isn’t in MLS data, and lot size varies widely across the county, so compare lots listing by listing.
What Did $250K, $300K, $350K and $400K Reach in Each Jefferson County Community?
Medians tell you where the middle sale landed. This table answers the more practical question: of all the 2026 sales in each community, how many closed at or below your budget? A higher share means more chances to buy.
| Community | Sales | $250K or less | $300K or less | $350K or less | $400K or less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Soto | 69 | 45 (65.2%) | 55 (79.7%) | 58 (84.1%) | 61 (88.4%) |
| Crystal City | 21 | 14 (66.7%) | 17 (81.0%) | 21 (100.0%) | 21 (100.0%) |
| Barnhart | 26 | 9 (34.6%) | 17 (65.4%) | 21 (80.8%) | 22 (84.6%) |
| Pevely | 25 | 9 (36.0%) | 16 (64.0%) | 17 (68.0%) | 18 (72.0%) |
| House Springs | 33 | 7 (21.2%) | 20 (60.6%) | 26 (78.8%) | 30 (90.9%) |
| Cedar Hill | 31 | 9 (29.0%) | 22 (71.0%) | 25 (80.6%) | 29 (93.5%) |
| Festus | 106 | 32 (30.2%) | 57 (53.8%) | 71 (67.0%) | 83 (78.3%) |
| Arnold | 97 | 24 (24.7%) | 47 (48.5%) | 68 (70.1%) | 74 (76.3%) |
| High Ridge | 54 | 14 (25.9%) | 24 (44.4%) | 30 (55.6%) | 39 (72.2%) |
| Herculaneum | 19 | 2 (10.5%) | 8 (42.1%) | 15 (78.9%) | 19 (100.0%) |
| Fenton | 51 | 8 (15.7%) | 14 (27.5%) | 25 (49.0%) | 36 (70.6%) |
| Imperial | 96 | 15 (15.6%) | 36 (37.5%) | 48 (50.0%) | 67 (69.8%) |
| Hillsboro | 64 | 5 (7.8%) | 20 (31.2%) | 31 (48.4%) | 40 (62.5%) |
| Dittmer | 10 | 3 (30.0%) | 3 (30.0%) | 4 (40.0%) | 5 (50.0%) |
| Eureka | 23 | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (13.0%) | 7 (30.4%) | 9 (39.1%) |
| Byrnes Mill | 11 | 1 (9.1%) | 2 (18.2%) | 2 (18.2%) | 3 (27.3%) |
Countywide, 204 of 758 sales (26.9%) closed at $250,000 or less and 481 (63.5%) at $350,000 or less. For the same question by school district, with an interactive budget tool, see Jefferson County housing by school district.
City Limits or Unincorporated: Why It Matters in Jefferson County
Most of Jefferson County has no city government. In 2026, 413 of 758 sales (54.5%) were outside any city or Census-designated place, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2024 boundaries.
That matters because a mailing address isn’t a city. Of the 97 sales with an Arnold address, 55 were inside Arnold city limits. Festus (60 of 106), De Soto (34 of 69) and Hillsboro (18 of 64) work the same way. Imperial, Barnhart, High Ridge, House Springs and Cedar Hill are unincorporated, and the Jefferson County side of Fenton isn’t in the City of Fenton.
Inside a city, the city’s rules apply. The City of Arnold requires a property maintenance inspection and a certificate of compliance before a home is sold or a new occupant moves in. The cities of Festus and De Soto issue a certificate of occupancy for a house being sold once it passes inspection. The City of Byrnes Mill requires an occupancy inspection before a sale.
Outside city limits, Jefferson County has no resale inspection of its own. Some fire protection districts do: Rock Community Fire Protection District, which serves the Arnold and Imperial area, inspects existing homes at a change of ownership. Which fire district covers a house is on the county assessor’s parcel record.
If you’re selling, find out which city and fire district the house is in before you list, so an inspection doesn’t surprise you after you have a contract. If you’re buying, ask who handles the occupancy inspection and who pays for any required repairs.
Sources: City of Arnold Building & Code Compliance; City of Festus; City of De Soto; City of Byrnes Mill; Rock Community Fire Protection District; Jefferson County Code Enforcement. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the city or district for the exact address.
Which School Districts Serve Jefferson County?
Twelve school districts had more than one 2026 sale. The largest were Fox C-6 (Arnold, much of Imperial and the Jefferson County side of Fenton) and Northwest R-I (High Ridge, House Springs, Cedar Hill and Byrnes Mill), followed by Hillsboro R-III, Festus R-VI, De Soto 73 and Windsor C-1.
District lines don’t follow mailing addresses. Imperial addresses split between Fox C-6 (57) and Windsor C-1 (39), and Barnhart addresses were mostly Windsor C-1 (19 of 26). Verify the district for the exact address before you write an offer.
What ZIP Codes Are in Jefferson County?
Most Jefferson County ZIP codes line up with one mailing-address community, but that doesn’t make them city limits or school districts. 63051, for example, covers House Springs and most Byrnes Mill addresses. ZIP codes with fewer than five 2026 sales aren’t shown.
How Jefferson County’s Main Roads Connect
Jefferson County runs on a few long corridors rather than a grid, so where you live along them shapes most trips.
I-55 runs north–south along the eastern side of the county, through Arnold, Imperial, Barnhart, Pevely and Festus, with U.S. 61/67 alongside it. Route 141 starts at U.S. 61/67 in Arnold and runs north across I-55 and the Route 21 freeway toward Fenton.
Route 21 runs south through the middle of the county, bypassing Hillsboro on a freeway section and continuing to De Soto. Route 30 runs southwest from the St. Louis County line through High Ridge, Byrnes Mill and Cedar Hill.
I-55
U.S. 61/67 · Route 141 · Route 21 · Route 30
Complete Community Index
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