St. Louis, Missouri
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching St. Louis.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 67 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $185,100 and median rent about $978, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $55,279. Typical commute is 24 minutes; summer highs average 88°F. Violent-offense rates run about 1927.3 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 67U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $185,100U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $978U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $55,279U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.4%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 1927.3per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 88°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how St. Louis compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 279,695City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $55,279Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year30% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 67ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year33% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $185,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year39% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $978City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year27% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 24 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6544% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1927.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)229% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 6183.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)100% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 88°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (87°F)U.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 27°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 40.8 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals24% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 248As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
St. Louis declined 12.4% from 319,336 in 2010 to 279,695 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is St. Louis expensive compared to the U.S. average?
St. Louis's housing cost index is 67 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($185,100 vs $303,400) and rents ($978 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 67 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $185,100 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $978 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in St. Louis?
Typical ownership costs center near $185,100, while median gross rent is about $978 a month. Against a median household income of $55,279, rent alone is roughly 21% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $185,100
- Median rent $978/month
- Median household income $55,279
What is the job market like in St. Louis?
County unemployment recently ran 4.4% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in St. Louis is about $55,279 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $55,279
How long is the typical commute in St. Louis?
Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 65/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 24 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 65/100
Is St. Louis safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 1927.3 per 100k and property about 6183.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 1927.3 per 100k
- Property 6183.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in St. Louis?
Normals show summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 27°F, about 40.8 inches of rain, and roughly 248 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 88°F
- Winter low 27°F
- 40.8 in rain · 248 sunny days
St. Louis, Missouri counts about 279,695 residents inside the city limits. Median household income is roughly $55,279, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 67 — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs (100 ≈ U.S. average). Entry home prices around $185,100 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
St. Louis is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare St. Louis with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Continental seasons and a central U.S. logistics position shape daily life. The normals show about 40.8 inches of rain and 248 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 24 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 65. Unemployment recently ran near 4.4%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. FBI CDE violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1927.3 per 100k annualized), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (St. Louis city, 1600000US2965000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · St. Louis city, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003960 CAHOKIA ST LOUIS AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10