The Town FilesSt. Louis, Missouri
City in St. Louis city · population 301,578 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,500
- Household income
- $56,160
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 36.8
St. Louis is a city of 301,578 people in St. Louis city, Missouri. The median home is worth $197,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Missouri towns, hipper than 99% of Missouri towns, more vibrant than 97% of Missouri towns.
How St. Louis ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in St. Louis is worth $197,500, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $56,160, which is more affordable than 19% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $997 a month. 45.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Louis | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,500 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $997 | $855 |
| Median household income | $56,160 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 45.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in St. Louis
| People | St. Louis | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 88.7% |
Weather in St. Louis
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 43.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Louis since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 22, 2011 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 36 deaths and 695 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 273 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 25, 2011.
Severe weather in St. Louis city since 1996
St. Louis city has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4877: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 8, 2022 | Flood | DR-4665: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Louis city
St. Louis city had 221,464 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,002 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in St. Louis itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in St. Louis
83 public schools with 27,056 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDBERGH SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 2,266 | 17.4 |
| GATEWAY HIGH | 9-12 | 816 | 10.3 |
| SOUTH CITY (charter) | PK-8 | 782 | 11.0 |
| TRUMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 754 | 15.7 |
| DRESSEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 628 | 15.0 |
| VASHON HIGH | 9-12 | 616 | 15.4 |
| MCKINLEY CLASS. LEADERSHIP AC. | 6-12 | 580 | 13.8 |
| CONCORD ELEM. SCHOOL | K-5 | 538 | 16.8 |
| MILLER CAREER ACADEMY | 9-12 | 537 | 11.2 |
| GATEWAY MIDDLE | 6-8 | 487 | 13.2 |
| GATEWAY ELEM. | PK-5 | 484 | 13.4 |
| STIX EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR. | PK-2 | 482 | 14.6 |
Towns near St. Louis
- Pine Lawn, MO4.4 mi · 2,754 people · home $66,800
- Maplewood, MO4.6 mi · 8,269 people · home $237,000
- Pagedale, MO4.6 mi · 2,554 people · home $75,200
- Clayton, MO4.7 mi · 17,355 people · home $830,000
- Richmond Heights, MO4.8 mi · 9,286 people · home $358,700
- Northwoods, MO5.1 mi · 3,687 people · home $76,000
- University City, MO5.1 mi · 35,065 people · home $306,700
- Shrewsbury, MO5.6 mi · 6,406 people · home $269,800
St. Louis questions
Is St. Louis, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Louis scores better for retirees than 11% of Missouri towns and quieter than 5%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in St. Louis?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Louis is valued at $197,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,160, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $997 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Louis?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.9 inches of precipitation a year and 13.8 inches of snow.
Does St. Louis get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Louis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 22, 2011. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)