St. Louis, Missouri
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching St. Louis, MO.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in St. Louis, MO?
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 559.5).
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 · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 88°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how St. Louis compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (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 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $55,279Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year30% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 67ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year33% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $185,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year39% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $978City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year27% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 24 minNear catalog avg (25 min)Catalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6544% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1927.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)244% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 6183.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)106% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 88°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 27°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 40.8 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals23% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 248As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7% below catalog avgCatalog avg 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, MO 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, MO?
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, MO?
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, MO?
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, MO 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 559.5 and 3005.3. 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, MO?
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 figures, 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 CIUS Table 8 violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1927.3 per 100k), 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 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · St. Louis city, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003960 CAHOKIA ST LOUIS AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19