Huntington Beach CA vs St. Charles MO — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Huntington Beach, CA

California · Population: 196,010

  • Median HH Income$119,885
  • Median Home Price$1,364,265
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+47.2%

St. Charles, MO

Missouri · Population: 71,542

  • Median HH Income$55,578
  • Median Home Price$144,200
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Huntington Beach
196,010
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
71,542
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Huntington Beach
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
Median Age
Huntington Beach
43.4
St. Charles
37.9
St. Charles +
Foreign Born
Huntington Beach
16.4%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
4.2%
White
Huntington Beach
64.3%
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
Black
Huntington Beach
1.3%
St. Charles
6.7%
St. Charles +
Asian
Huntington Beach
12.6%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
1.4%
Hispanic
Huntington Beach
19.4%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
7.7%
Spanish at Home
Huntington Beach
N/A
St. Charles
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Huntington Beach
$119,885
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
$55,578
Per Capita Income
Huntington Beach
$62,450
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
$31,499
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Huntington Beach
$77,230
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
$58,527
Unemployment Rate
Huntington Beach
5.4%
St. Charles
4.7%
St. Charles +
Poverty Rate
Huntington Beach
7.4%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
18.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Huntington Beach
47.2%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
22.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Huntington Beach
$1,364,265
St. Charles
$144,200
St. Charles +
Homeownership Rate
Huntington Beach
55.8%
St. Charles
61.4%
St. Charles +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Huntington Beach
503
St. Charles
501
St. Charles +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Huntington Beach
2388
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
2418

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
24.0%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
35.9%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
10.2%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
10.4%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Huntington Beach
16.2%
St. Charles
16.0%
St. Charles +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
6.4%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
7.1%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
16.2%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
18.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Huntington Beach
8.9%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
12.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Huntington Beach
N/A
St. Charles
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Huntington Beach
N/A
St. Charles
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Huntington Beach
7.9 µg/m³
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
9.3 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Huntington Beach
75.0%
Huntington Beach +
St. Charles
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Huntington Beach
31.2 min
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +

Which City is Right for You?

Huntington Beach leads in median household income at $119,885, while st. Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $144,200. On public safety, St. Charles is safer with a violent crime rate of 501 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Huntington Beach. St. Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Huntington Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Huntington Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Huntington Beach & St. Charles