Warrenton Debates Tiny Homes to Boost Affordability for First-Time Buyers

Warrenton is debating whether to allow tiny homes as a solution to housing affordability challenges facing first-time buyers and young families, a discussion that Alderman Brandon Lang has driven after observing that new homes in the city "most cost $300,000 or more." KMOV / First Alert 4 reported the proposal as local leaders weigh options amid rising costs.

Lang, identified in the KMOV coverage as a Warrenton alderman, framed the gap between housing prices and local earnings with specific income figures: the median income for an adult in Warrenton is $27,872, while household median income is $61,031. Lang said his concern is that current pricing "worries that many residents are excluded from homeownership opportunities" and urged the city to consider alternatives including allowing tiny homes.

Lang argued tiny homes could broaden options within the local market, saying, "And I think it’s something that would create housing diversity in Warrenton and create affordable housing option in Warrenton." He linked the proposal to everyday choices for younger residents, adding, "That’s the difference between being able to own a house or have to live in an apartment or or live with your parents." Lang emphasized urgency with a call to act: "Doing nothing is not going to help anybody. So we’ve got to be able to think outside the box and find solutions for this."

KMOV noted national context for the idea, reporting that tiny homes cost between $30,000 and $70,000 and that "around the U.S., tiny house communities are growing in popularity with all age ranges." The report also highlighted a local precedent in neighboring St. Louis, where a tiny home village in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood is being developed to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans, a model some in Warrenton are watching.

Michelle Bernth, executive director of the Warrenton social service agency AGAPE, framed tiny homes as a tool for stabilization for people experiencing homelessness. Bernth said, "When you give somebody a safe and secure place to live first, they are then able to take the steps like being able to get a job, further their education, going to rehab," tying the housing discussion to service outcomes AGAPE encounters locally.

Not everyone in Warrenton supports the idea. KMOV reported unnamed critics who "worry tiny homes will drive down property values and are not right for Warrenton." In response to both support and opposition, Lang said several aldermen plan to visit tiny homes in St. Louis to learn more, signaling the city will pursue fact-finding before any zoning or ordinance changes are proposed. Copyright 2026 KMOV. All rights reserved.