CountyScore

St. Louis city

Missouri · MO

#114 in Missouri
60.6
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Louis city, Missouri

St. Louis City outperforms U.S. average

St. Louis City's composite score of 66.8 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 34th percentile of U.S. counties. The city ranks above average for American communities overall.

Below Missouri's state average

At 66.8, St. Louis City trails Missouri's state average of 74.8, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of state performance metrics. The city faces stronger competition from other Missouri communities.

Urban density and moderate costs

St. Louis City's cost score of 74.1 reflects moderate affordability for an urban center, with median home values at $185,100 and rents at $978/month. A tax score of 72.9 at 1.045% effective rate offers reasonable tax burden for city living.

Income potential remains limited

An income score of 19.5 and median household income of $55,279 indicate modest earning opportunities relative to other urban areas. Critical data on safety, schools, health, and environmental quality are not yet available.

Suits urban families with modest means

St. Louis City appeals to urban dwellers seeking city living with manageable housing costs and taxes, though income-building opportunities are limited. This is for those who value urban amenities over suburban earning potential.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax72.9Cost74.1SafetyComing SoonHealth63.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome19.5Risk1.3WaterComing Soon
🏛72.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠74.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼19.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤63.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡1.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare St. Louis city with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Hockley County
Texas
60.6
Median income: $54,810
Richmond city
Virginia
60.6
Median income: $62,671
Imperial County
California
60.7
Median income: $56,393
Honolulu County
Hawaii
60.5
Median income: $104,264
Bureau County
Illinois
60.5
Median income: $65,894

Deep Dives

St. Louis city across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in St. Louis city

via TaxByCounty

St. Louis City taxes rank higher nationally

St. Louis City's effective tax rate of 1.045% exceeds the national median of 0.71%, placing it in the 68th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $1,935 falls below the national median of $2,690, reflecting relatively modest home values ($185,100). This combination reveals a mid-range tax burden when compared to major cities across America.

Third highest rate in Missouri

At 1.045%, St. Louis City's effective rate is 43% higher than Missouri's state average of 0.733%. Only St. Louis County (1.225%) and St. Charles County (1.125%) exceed the city's rate statewide. The median property tax of $1,935 is 62% above the state median of $1,199.

City taxes exceed surrounding counties

St. Louis City's 1.045% rate significantly surpasses St. Francois County (0.749%), Stoddard County (0.654%), and St. Clair County (0.639%), though it falls below St. Louis County at 1.225%. The city's independent tax authority and service provision create a higher burden than suburban alternatives. This differential has historically influenced population movements in the metro area.

Your $185,100 home costs $1,935 yearly

A median-value home in St. Louis City generates an estimated annual property tax of $1,935—or about $161 per month. With mortgage escrow, owners typically pay approximately $2,161 annually. Over a 30-year homeownership period, that's roughly $58,050 in property taxes.

St. Louis City residents can appeal assessments

Many St. Louis City property owners are assessed above fair market value, particularly in neighborhoods where recent home sales indicate lower values. The city assessor's office accepts formal appeals during annual windows. Challenging an overvaluation can yield hundreds of dollars in annual savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Louis city

via CostByCounty

St. Louis City's affordability crisis

St. Louis City renters dedicate 21.2% of income to housing—far exceeding both the national norm and Missouri's 15.6% state average. With $978 monthly rents and a median household income of just $55,279, residents here face the sharpest affordability squeeze among peer counties.

Least affordable county in Missouri

St. Louis City ranks at the bottom of Missouri counties for housing affordability, with a 21.2% rent-to-income ratio that far surpasses the state average. This disparity reflects decades of disinvestment, population loss, and concentrated poverty affecting the city's housing market.

City premium vs. suburban escape

St. Louis City's $978 rent exceeds St. Louis County ($1,164) in absolute terms but devours a far larger income share (21.2% vs. 17.2%) due to lower wages. Nearby suburbs like St. Charles offer better rent-to-income ratios despite similar absolute costs, explaining population outflows.

Housing overshadows other needs

A St. Louis City household earning $55,279 annually ($4,607/month) dedicates $978 to rent or $1,093 to mortgage, consuming 21-24% of gross income. This leaves only $3,500 monthly for all other expenses—a burden that forces difficult trade-offs in healthcare, food, and savings.

Reconsider St. Louis unless income supports it

St. Louis City offers urban amenities and cultural richness but carries the state's worst housing affordability for typical earners, consuming over one-fifth of income. If you earn less than $80,000 annually, explore St. Louis County suburbs or outlying counties for dramatically better cost-of-living ratios.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Louis city

via IncomeByCounty

St. Louis City Income Below National Median

St. Louis city's median household income of $55,279 falls $19,476 short of the U.S. median of $74,755. This gap reflects an urban economy with lower average earning power than the nation overall.

Below Missouri Average, Dense Urban Setting

At $55,279, St. Louis city's median income runs $4,224 below Missouri's state average of $59,503. As Missouri's largest city, it ranks in the lower-middle income tier statewide despite significant economic activity.

City Income Trails Suburban Counties

St. Louis city's $55,279 lags its suburban neighbors: St. Louis County ($81,340), St. Charles County ($102,912), and Ste. Genevieve ($61,310). This urban-suburban income gap reflects broader patterns seen in major U.S. metros.

Housing Costs Consume More Income Here

St. Louis city's rent-to-income ratio of 21.2% is the highest among these eight counties, signaling significant housing affordability pressure. With median home values at $185,100, many residents must allocate over one-fifth of income to housing.

Navigate Urban Wealth Building Strategically

St. Louis city residents facing higher housing costs should explore first-time homebuyer programs and community reinvestment initiatives. Investing in education and job training can unlock higher-wage opportunities in the region's growing sectors.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Louis city

via HealthByCounty

St. Louis City confronts serious health disparities

At 71.5 years, St. Louis City's life expectancy is 3 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, reflecting concentrated poverty and health inequities typical of older industrial cities. With 20.8% of residents reporting poor or fair health, the city sits just below the national average, but the significantly shorter lifespan suggests premature mortality from chronic conditions and preventable causes.

St. Louis City ranks among Missouri's worst

St. Louis City's 71.5-year life expectancy trails Missouri's state average of 74.3 years by 2.8 years, placing it among the lowest-performing counties in the state. At 9.6% uninsured, the city's rate is better than state average (12.5%), yet life expectancy remains poor, pointing to non-insurance barriers like poverty and healthcare system fragmentation.

City lags suburban health outcomes significantly

St. Louis City's 71.5-year life expectancy is 7.6 years below St. Louis County (76.3) and 7.6 years below St. Charles (79.1), revealing stark geographic health inequities within the metro area. Despite having 97 primary care providers and 603 mental health providers per 100K—the highest densities in the region—the city's outcomes lag, highlighting that provider supply alone cannot overcome concentrated poverty and social barriers.

Urban concentration of poverty drives outcomes

St. Louis City has the region's highest provider densities (97 primary care, 603 mental health per 100K), yet the lowest life expectancy, indicating that poverty, housing instability, and transportation challenges outweigh clinical capacity. The 9.6% uninsured rate is better than surrounding counties, but housing crises and food insecurity likely prevent residents from fully benefiting from available care.

Insurance plus community care improves health

St. Louis City residents benefit from dense provider networks, but ensuring insurance coverage removes a critical barrier to accessing them. Enroll in a marketplace plan at Healthcare.gov or visit a local federally qualified health center to pair coverage with culturally competent, neighborhood-based care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Louis city

via RiskByCounty

St. Louis City: Among Nation's Highest-Risk

St. Louis City's composite risk score of 98.70 rates as "Relatively High," making it one of America's most hazard-exposed urban centers. Residents face natural disaster risks far exceeding the national average.

Missouri's Most Dangerous Urban Center

At 98.70, St. Louis City nearly doubles Missouri's state average of 50.56, ranking among the state's highest-risk areas. Few Missouri communities face comparable overall disaster exposure.

Comparable Risk to St. Louis County Across River

St. Louis City (98.70) has nearly identical risk to adjacent St. Louis County (99.33), together forming one of America's highest-risk metropolitan areas. Both face severe multi-hazard environments unlike safer surrounding regions.

Tornadoes, Floods, and Earthquakes Triple Threat

St. Louis City confronts extreme tornado risk (98.86), severe flood danger (96.98), and significant earthquake exposure (98.47). This unique triple-hazard combination makes comprehensive disaster planning essential.

Maximum Protection Non-Negotiable Here

St. Louis City residents cannot afford to skip flood, tornado, or earthquake insurance—all three are critical given the city's exceptional hazard exposure. Review your coverage immediately and consider additional protective measures like storm-resistant retrofits.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.