St. Charles MO vs St. Louis MO — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
St. Charles, MO
Missouri · Population: 71,542
- Median HH Income$55,578
- Median Home Price$144,200
- Unemployment4.7%
- Bachelor's+22.7%
St. Louis, MO
Missouri · Population: 293,109
- Median HH Income$55,279
- Median Home Price$185,100
- Unemployment5.1%
- Bachelor's+40.2%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
St. Charles
71,542
St. Louis
293,109
St. Louis +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Charles
N/A
St. Louis
N/A
Median Age
St. Charles
37.9
St. Louis
36.6
St. Louis +
Foreign Born
St. Charles
4.2%
St. Louis
6.6%
St. Louis +
White
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
45.7%
Black
St. Charles
6.7%
St. Louis
43.1%
St. Louis +
Asian
St. Charles
1.4%
St. Louis
3.4%
St. Louis +
Hispanic
St. Charles
7.7%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
5.1%
Spanish at Home
St. Charles
N/A
St. Louis
N/A
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,542 | 293,109 | St. Louis + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 36.6 | St. Louis + |
| Foreign Born | 4.2% | 6.6% | St. Louis + |
| White | 80.4% | 45.7% | St. Charles + |
| Black | 6.7% | 43.1% | St. Louis + |
| Asian | 1.4% | 3.4% | St. Louis + |
| Hispanic | 7.7% | 5.1% | St. Charles + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Charles
$55,578
St. Charles +
St. Louis
$55,279
Per Capita Income
St. Charles
$31,499
St. Louis
$38,947
St. Louis +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Charles
$58,527
St. Louis
$58,527
Tie
Unemployment Rate
St. Charles
4.7%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
5.1%
Poverty Rate
St. Charles
18.7%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
19.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Charles
22.7%
St. Louis
40.2%
St. Louis +
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $55,578 | $55,279 | St. Charles + |
| Per Capita Income | $31,499 | $38,947 | St. Louis + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $58,527 | $58,527 | Tie |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 5.1% | St. Charles + |
| Poverty Rate | 18.7% | 19.8% | St. Charles + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 22.7% | 40.2% | St. Louis + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Charles
$144,200
St. Charles +
St. Louis
$185,100
Homeownership Rate
St. Charles
61.4%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
45.4%
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $144,200 | $185,100 | St. Charles + |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.4% | 45.4% | St. Charles + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Charles
501
St. Louis
501
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Charles
2418
St. Louis
2418
Tie
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 501 | 501 | Tie |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2418 | 2418 | Tie |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
35.9%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
36.8%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
10.4%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
13.2%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Charles
16.0%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
18.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
7.1%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
9.4%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
18.4%
St. Louis
17.9%
St. Louis +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
12.5%
St. Charles +
St. Louis
16.8%
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 35.9% | 36.8% | St. Charles + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 10.4% | 13.2% | St. Charles + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.0% | 18.8% | St. Charles + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 7.1% | 9.4% | St. Charles + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 18.4% | 17.9% | St. Louis + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.5% | 16.8% | St. Charles + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Charles
N/A
St. Louis
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Charles
N/A
St. Louis
N/A
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
St. Charles
9.3 µg/m³
St. Louis
9.3 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Charles
55.0%
St. Louis
55.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.3 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | Tie |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 55.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +
St. Louis
24.0 min
| Metric | St. Charles, MO | St. Louis, MO | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 18.3 min | 24.0 min | St. Charles + |
Which City is Right for You?
St. Charles leads in median household income at $55,578, while st. Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $144,200. On public safety, St. Louis is safer with a violent crime rate of 501 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Charles. St. Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and St. Louis has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 9.3 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. Charles scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.9%.
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