St. Charles MO vs Tucson AZ — 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%

Tucson, AZ

Arizona · Population: 543,348

  • Median HH Income$54,546
  • Median Home Price$324,946
  • Unemployment6.4%
  • Bachelor's+30.2%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
St. Charles
71,542
Tucson
543,348
Tucson +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Charles
N/A
Tucson
N/A
Median Age
St. Charles
37.9
Tucson
34.6
Tucson +
Foreign Born
St. Charles
4.2%
Tucson
13.7%
Tucson +
White
St. Charles
80.4%
St. Charles +
Tucson
58.2%
Black
St. Charles
6.7%
St. Charles +
Tucson
5.0%
Asian
St. Charles
1.4%
Tucson
3.1%
Tucson +
Hispanic
St. Charles
7.7%
Tucson
42.7%
Tucson +
Spanish at Home
St. Charles
N/A
Tucson
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
St. Charles
$55,578
St. Charles +
Tucson
$54,546
Per Capita Income
St. Charles
$31,499
St. Charles +
Tucson
$31,152
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Charles
$58,527
Tucson
$59,120
Tucson +
Unemployment Rate
St. Charles
4.7%
St. Charles +
Tucson
6.4%
Poverty Rate
St. Charles
18.7%
St. Charles +
Tucson
18.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Charles
22.7%
Tucson
30.2%
Tucson +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Charles
$144,200
St. Charles +
Tucson
$324,946
Homeownership Rate
St. Charles
61.4%
St. Charles +
Tucson
51.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Charles
501
Tucson
450
Tucson +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Charles
2418
Tucson
2150
Tucson +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
35.9%
Tucson
33.5%
Tucson +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
10.4%
St. Charles +
Tucson
11.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Charles
16.0%
St. Charles +
Tucson
18.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
7.1%
St. Charles +
Tucson
15.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
18.4%
Tucson
14.6%
Tucson +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Charles
12.5%
Tucson
12.5%
Tie

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Charles
N/A
Tucson
69.8°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Charles
N/A
Tucson
12.2 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Charles
18.3 min
St. Charles +
Tucson
23.9 min

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, Tucson is safer with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Charles. St. Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Tucson has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Tucson scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.5%.

Compare More Cities

About St. Charles & Tucson