CountyScore

St. Louis County

Missouri · MO

#113 in Missouri
60.7
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Louis County, Missouri

St. Louis County ranks above national median

St. Louis County's composite score of 63.5 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 27th percentile of U.S. counties. The county offers above-average livability compared to most American communities.

Below Missouri state performance

At 63.5, St. Louis County trails Missouri's state average of 74.8, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of state counties. Despite national strength, it underperforms many peer Missouri communities.

Strong income and moderate taxes

St. Louis County stands out with a median household income of $81,340 and an income score of 36.5, reflecting stronger earning potential. A tax score of 67.8 at 1.225% effective rate provides moderate tax burden for a suburban metro area.

Housing affordability gap widens

The county's cost score of 67.1 reflects higher housing expenses, with median home values at $260,700 and median rent at $1,164/month. Safety, school, health, and environmental data are currently unavailable.

Best for middle-to-upper-income families

St. Louis County appeals to families with solid middle-to-upper incomes seeking suburban comfort in a major metro area. This is where you'll find better earning potential but must accept higher housing costs.

Score breakdown

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

Tax67.8Cost67.1SafetyComing SoonHealth73.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome36.5Risk0.7WaterComing Soon
🏛67.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠67.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼36.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤73.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.7
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 County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Imperial County
California
60.7
Median income: $56,393
Fulton County
Illinois
60.7
Median income: $58,617
Iroquois County
Illinois
60.7
Median income: $62,439
Reno County
Kansas
60.7
Median income: $60,498
Charles County
Maryland
60.7
Median income: $120,592

Deep Dives

St. Louis County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in St. Louis County

via TaxByCounty

St. Louis County ranks highest nationally

St. Louis County's effective tax rate of 1.225% places it in the 79th percentile nationally, well above the median of 0.71%. The median property tax of $3,193 exceeds the national median of $2,690 by 19%, despite home values that align closely with national norms. St. Louis County represents one of America's higher-tax metropolitan areas.

Highest tax rate in Missouri

At 1.225%, St. Louis County leads all Missouri counties by effective rate, surpassing the state average of 0.733% by 67%. The median property tax of $3,193 is 166% above Missouri's state median of $1,199. This highest-in-state burden reflects St. Louis County's dense infrastructure, services, and debt obligations.

Highest in region by significant margin

St. Louis County's 1.225% rate far exceeds all regional neighbors, including St. Charles County (1.125%) and St. Louis City (1.045%). The gap widens dramatically against lower-tax counties like St. Clair (0.639%) and Stoddard (0.654%). This disparity reflects the county's role as the region's economic and service center.

Your $260,700 home costs $3,193 yearly

A median-value home in St. Louis County generates an estimated annual property tax of $3,193—approximately $266 per month. Owners with mortgages pay around $3,236 when escrow is included. Over 30 years, property taxes total roughly $95,790.

St. Louis County appeals save substantial money

Given St. Louis County's high tax burden and competitive housing market, many homeowners find their properties overassessed relative to recent comparable sales. The county assessor's office welcomes formal challenges during annual appeal periods. Even modest assessment reductions yield significant savings on such high property values.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Louis County

via CostByCounty

St. Louis County balances suburban prosperity

St. Louis County renters spend 17.2% of income on housing, slightly above Missouri's 15.6% average but below many comparable suburban counties nationwide. The county's $81,340 median household income—9% above the national average—manages higher rents ($1,164/month) with relative ease.

Upper-tier affordability among suburbs

St. Louis County ranks in the better half of Missouri counties, with a 17.2% rent-to-income ratio that reflects higher incomes offsetting premium suburban housing costs. This positions it as more affordable than St. Louis City but less accessible than rural peer counties.

Suburban premium with suburban earnings

St. Louis County rents ($1,164/month) exceed rural peers like Shelby and Stoddard by $400+, yet household incomes here average $81,340—the second-highest in the peer group. This wage premium justifies higher absolute costs while maintaining reasonable affordability ratios.

Balanced suburban budget allocation

A St. Louis County household earning $81,340 annually ($6,778/month) dedicates $1,164 to rent or $1,320 to mortgage, consuming 17-19% of gross income. This leaves approximately $5,500 monthly for discretionary spending, supporting a comfortable suburban lifestyle.

St. Louis County for suburban balance

St. Louis County appeals to households earning $75,000+ seeking suburban amenities with better affordability than St. Louis City and more services than rural alternatives. If you're earning a solid middle-class income, this county's combination of access, schools, and manageable housing costs rewards relocation.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Louis County

via IncomeByCounty

St. Louis County Exceeds National Income

St. Louis County's median household income of $81,340 surpasses the U.S. median of $74,755 by $6,585. This above-average earnings power positions the county among the wealthier regions nationally.

Missouri's Third-Richest County

At $81,340, St. Louis County ranks among the top-earning counties in Missouri, running $21,837 above the state average of $59,503. Only a handful of Missouri counties match its income level.

St. Louis County Leads Surrounding Area

St. Louis County's $81,340 median substantially outpaces neighboring counties: St. Charles ($102,912) leads regionally, but St. Louis County significantly exceeds Ste. Genevieve ($61,310), Shelby ($52,127), and St. Clair ($46,731).

Strong Income Supports Home Values

St. Louis County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.2% remains manageable despite median home values of $260,700. Above-average incomes allow residents to carry mortgages and living costs without excessive strain.

Optimize Your Prosperous Position

St. Louis County residents earning $81,000+ annually can aggressively build wealth through diversified investments, real estate, and retirement planning. Consulting a financial advisor on tax-efficient strategies maximizes the returns on your above-average earnings.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Louis County

via HealthByCounty

St. Louis County exceeds national health benchmarks

At 76.3 years, St. Louis County residents live 1.8 years longer than the U.S. average of 74.5 years, demonstrating above-average health and longevity. With only 17.1% reporting poor or fair health versus the national rate of 21%, the county shows strong chronic disease management and preventive care outcomes.

St. Louis County leads Missouri's suburbs

St. Louis County's 76.3-year life expectancy exceeds Missouri's state average of 74.3 years by 2 years, placing it among the state's healthier counties. The 7.3% uninsured rate is significantly lower than Missouri's 12.5%, reflecting the county's relative affluence and strong employer-based coverage.

St. Louis County rivals regional health leaders

St. Louis County's 76.3-year life expectancy trails only St. Charles (79.1) and Ste. Genevieve (76.5) in the region, signaling consistent, above-average health outcomes. With 121 primary care providers and 384 mental health providers per 100K, St. Louis County has abundant clinical resources that rival urban centers and far exceed most rural peers.

Robust provider network supports prevention

St. Louis County's 121 primary care providers per 100K enable patients to find convenient preventive care, while 384 mental health providers per 100K ensure behavioral health services are accessible without major waits. The low 7.3% uninsured rate means most residents can afford to act on providers' recommendations, supporting consistent treatment and better long-term health.

Maintain optimal coverage for your family

St. Louis County's strong healthcare infrastructure is most effective when paired with continuous coverage; during open enrollment, review your plan to ensure it still fits your family's needs. Visit Healthcare.gov or your employer's benefits portal to compare options and lock in coverage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Louis County

via RiskByCounty

St. Louis County: Nation's Highest-Risk Areas

St. Louis County's composite risk score of 99.33 rates as "Relatively High," placing it among America's most hazard-exposed counties. Nearly every resident faces significantly above-average natural disaster risk.

Missouri's Single Highest-Risk County

At 99.33, St. Louis County far exceeds Missouri's state average of 50.56, representing the state's most dangerous natural hazard environment. The county's risk profile is nearly twice the state mean.

Nearly Identical Risk to St. Louis City

St. Louis County (99.33) and St. Louis City (98.70) form a virtually unified high-risk metropolitan zone with minimal variation. Together they represent the most hazard-exposed region in Missouri by a substantial margin.

Four Major Hazards Converge Here

St. Louis County residents face severe tornado risk (98.06), catastrophic flood danger (99.08), significant earthquake exposure (99.05), and notable hurricane risk (45.10). This unprecedented convergence of multiple major hazards requires sophisticated disaster planning.

Comprehensive Coverage Absolutely Essential

St. Louis County homeowners must secure flood, tornado, and earthquake insurance without exception—all three hazards pose serious threats. Additional investments in storm-resistant upgrades and flood mitigation could save lives and property.

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.