1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of St. Louis County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $82,936. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- St. Louis County by the numbers
- Housing costs in St. Louis County
- Household income in St. Louis County
- How St. Louis County residents earn a living
- Counties near St. Louis County
- St. Louis County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at St. Louis County's medians
- People and households in St. Louis County
- What the numbers mean for St. Louis County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for St. Louis County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Louis County by the numbers
With an estimated 995,569 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Louis County ranks 1st of 115 in Missouri for population. It covers 508 square miles of land, or about 1,960 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan area. Florissant is the biggest of its 98 Census places, at roughly 51,773 people (5% of the county total).
Housing costs in St. Louis County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,209 in St. Louis County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $276,800, a typical St. Louis County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 69% of St. Louis County households own their home and 31% rent.
| Housing | St. Louis County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,209/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $276,800 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
Household income in St. Louis County
The median household income in St. Louis County is $82,936; statewide it is $70,702, so St. Louis County runs 17% above Missouri as a whole.
| Yearly household income | St. Louis County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.9% | -4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | -3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.4% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.5% | +6.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 42% of St. Louis County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.8% of St. Louis County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Missouri. For a borrower in St. Louis County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How St. Louis County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of St. Louis County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 14% locally and 10% for Missouri. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in St. Louis County. About 71% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | St. Louis County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.9% | +3.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.0% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Counties near St. Louis County
Distances run center to center, from St. Louis city at 11 miles out to Jersey County at 31. Income ranges from $56,160 in St. Louis city to $104,692 in St. Charles County; 2 of these neighbors top St. Louis County's median. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | - | $82,936 | $1,209/mo | 69% |
| St. Louis city, MO | 11 mi | $56,160 | $997/mo | 45% |
| St. Charles County, MO | 16 mi | $104,692 | $1,370/mo | 81% |
| Jefferson County, MO | 27 mi | $82,851 | $979/mo | 82% |
| Monroe County, IL | 29 mi | $102,880 | $1,042/mo | 85% |
| St. Clair County, IL | 30 mi | $73,854 | $1,090/mo | 68% |
| Jersey County, IL | 31 mi | $80,361 | $846/mo | 81% |
St. Louis County towns compared
98 Census places fall mainly inside St. Louis County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 856,287 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $24,837 in Pine Lawn to $250,001 in Ladue. Median rent ranges from $803 in Riverview to $3,111 in Crystal Lake Park. Live in one of these St. Louis County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florissant | city | 51,773 | $65,318 | $1,288 | 13 mi |
| Chesterfield | city | 49,574 | $133,037 | $1,644 | 7 mi |
| Oakville | CDP | 35,333 | $106,362 | $1,091 | 15 mi |
| Wildwood | city | 35,133 | $161,060 | $1,661 | 13 mi |
| University City | city | 34,685 | $80,694 | $1,319 | 6 mi |
| Ballwin | city | 31,279 | $124,626 | $1,418 | 6 mi |
| Mehlville | CDP | 29,805 | $67,071 | $1,066 | 12 mi |
| Kirkwood | city | 29,363 | $121,270 | $1,348 | 4 mi |
| Maryland Heights | city | 27,880 | $86,436 | $1,312 | 5 mi |
| Hazelwood | city | 25,114 | $55,908 | $996 | 11 mi |
| Webster Groves | city | 23,712 | $115,227 | $1,650 | 6 mi |
| Old Jamestown | CDP | 20,651 | $99,521 | $1,835 | 16 mi |
| Affton | CDP | 19,052 | $79,539 | $1,015 | 9 mi |
| Creve Coeur | city | 18,643 | $127,188 | $1,622 | 1 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at St. Louis County's medians
St. Louis County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, St. Louis County: $6,911
- Median rent: $1,209, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,210 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,901 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in St. Louis County
Degree holders: 47% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Indicator | St. Louis County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
What the numbers mean for St. Louis County borrowers
Based on the St. Louis County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Consolidation math. With 42% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Before you sign
Quick steps for St. Louis County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one St. Louis County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Missouri.
- Ask a St. Louis County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for St. Louis County residents
St. Louis County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. Louis County earn?
The median is $82,936; 42% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does St. Louis County rent compare with Missouri?
$1,209 locally versus $1,033 for the state, 17% above.
Which towns does the St. Louis County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 98 Census places: Florissant, Chesterfield, Oakville, Wildwood, University City.
Does living in St. Louis County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a St. Louis County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in St. Louis County check a lender's license?
With the Missouri Division of Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.