St. Louis, Missouri

Gateway to the West with urban charm

Midwest St. Louis, MO-IL Metro

U.S. News (2025)

#71 Best Places to Live

Livability (2025)

#42 Top 100 Best Places to Live

WhereAtHome Score

77

C+

out of 100

Overview

St. Louis offers big-city amenities with small-city affordability. The iconic Gateway Arch anchors a riverfront that has seen significant investment. World-class institutions like Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital drive the economy, while historic neighborhoods like the Hill and Soulard provide character and community.

Key Highlights

  • Gateway Arch National Park
  • Washington University - major research institution
  • Forest Park - larger than Central Park
  • Very affordable housing market
  • Strong healthcare and biotech sectors
  • Historic ethnic neighborhoods

Key Metrics

Population 2024

293,310

Source: Census ACS

Median Home Value 2026

$188,569

Source: Zillow ZHVI

Median Household Income 2023

$51,591

Source: Census ACS

Average Commute 2023

24.8 min

Source: Census ACS

Walk Score 2025

62

Source: Walk Score

Crime Level 2024

High

Source: FBI CDE

School Rating

2025

C (4.8/10)

Source: Curated

Cost of Living Index 2025

86 (100 = U.S. avg)

Source: Curated

2024 Presidential Election

St. Louis city (county-level results)

81%
17%
Democrat 94,458
Republican 19,342
Leans D+64.7

Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more

Climate

Summer High

89°F

Winter Low

24°F

Annual Rainfall

41"

Sunny Days

202

Amenities & Infrastructure

108+ Parks

Green spaces and recreation

12 Major Hospitals

Healthcare access

6 Universities

Higher education institutions

Public Transit Available

Bus, rail, or metro service

Major Employers

BJC HealthCare Washington University Boeing Anheuser-Busch

Score Breakdown

6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.

Housing Affordability 100/100

Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)

Income vs Housing 75.3/100

How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)

Commute Time 58.4/100

Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)

Crime 20/100

Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)

Walkability 62/100

Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)

Purchasing Power 45.8/100

Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)

WhereAtHome Score 77

Location

St. Louis, MO (38.6270, -90.1994)
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Compare with another city

Start Comparison

Last Updated: 2026-07-01

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.

Nearby Cities

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Webster Groves

MO

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Kirkwood

MO

C

Collinsville

IL

B

Hazelwood

MO

C+

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