CityCompare

St. Louis MO vs West Palm Beach FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

St. Louis, MO

Missouri · Population: 293,109

  • Median HH Income$55,279
  • Median Home Price$185,100
  • Unemployment5.1%
  • Bachelor's+40.2%

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
St. Louis
293,109
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
119,508
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Louis
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
St. Louis
36.6
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
40.2
Foreign Born
St. Louis
6.6%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
St. Louis
45.7%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
St. Louis
43.1%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
31.5%
Asian
St. Louis
3.4%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
2.5%
Hispanic
St. Louis
5.1%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
St. Louis
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
St. Louis
$55,279
West Palm Beach
$69,261
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Income
St. Louis
$38,947
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Louis
$58,527
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Unemployment Rate
St. Louis
5.1%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
5.4%
Poverty Rate
St. Louis
19.8%
West Palm Beach
14.8%
West Palm Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Louis
40.2%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
37.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Louis
$185,100
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Homeownership Rate
St. Louis
45.4%
West Palm Beach
50.2%
West Palm Beach +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Louis
501
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Louis
2418
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
36.8%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
13.2%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Louis
18.8%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
9.4%
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
17.9%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Louis
16.8%
West Palm Beach
13.0%
West Palm Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Louis
N/A
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Louis
N/A
West Palm Beach
62.3 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Louis
24.0 min
St. Louis +
West Palm Beach
25.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

West Palm Beach leads in median household income at $69,261, while st. Louis offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $185,100. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 501 in St. Louis. St. Louis has a lower unemployment rate at 5.1%, and West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

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About St. Louis & West Palm Beach

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