City profile
St. Louis, MO
An affordable city with strong Black heritage, world-class institutions, and many free attractions.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
33°F
Summer avg
80°F
Sunny days / yr
205
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$200,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,200
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
87
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.00%
- State income tax (top)
- 4.7%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.39%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 99/100
Top hazards: Heat wave, Tornado, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
13 mi to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 79% Democratic / 18% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
288,512
Growth since 2019
-6.4%
Median age
36.8
Residents 65+
15.6%
Median household income
$56,160
Income growth since 2019
+27.9%
Black household income
$38,162
Home ownership
45.3%
Poverty rate
20.6%
Poverty rate, 65+
17.9%
Race & ethnicity: Black 42.1% · White 44.4% · Hispanic 5.3% · Asian 3.5% · Other 4.6%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
1,231 · 273% above the national average
Property crime
5,051 · 225% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, St. Louis Police Department. State average: violent 426, property 1,690.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: tornadoes
Highlights
- Very affordable
- Harris-Stowe State University
- Free Zoo, Art Museum, and Science Center
- Strong healthcare (Barnes-Jewish, Washington U)
Trade-offs
- High crime in some neighborhoods
- Cold winters
- City-county divide
- Population decline
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.