St. Louis vs University City
St. Louis, Missouri versus University City, Missouri: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
University City edges out St. Louis on overall objective livability (47 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | St. Louis | University City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $53k | $72k |
| Cost of Living | $42k | $42k |
| Home Value | $174k | $304k |
| Monthly Rent | $938 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.08% | 1.20% |
| Income Tax | 5.80% | 4.80% |
| Sales Tax | 8.39% | 8.39% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.13% | 12.63% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 2.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 32°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 79°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9 in | 43.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8 in | 16.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 231 days | 231 days |
| Summer Humidity | 68°F | 68°F |
| Comfortable Days | 70 days | 70 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 78.7 | 75.7 |
| Air Quality | 58 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 71.4 | 78.4 |
| Violent Crime | 2499/100k | 2501/100k |
| Property Crime | 7315/100k | 7321/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 298,018 | 34,850 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.59 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.80 |
| Political Leaning | D+67 | D+67 |
| White (%) | 44.6% | 54.8% |
| Black (%) | 43.7% | 31.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.3% | 2.5% |
| Asian (%) | 3.5% | 6.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.9% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 13.3/20 | 14.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 10 mi | 6 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 83.0% | 92.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 29.86 | 187.66 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is St. Louis or University City more affordable?
- University City has the lower cost of living: its index is $42k, compared with St. Louis's $42k and University City's $42k. Median rent is $938 in St. Louis versus $1k in University City.
- Is St. Louis or University City safer?
- St. Louis has the lower violent crime rate. St. Louis reports 2499/100k and University City reports 2501/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in St. Louis or University City?
- The median home value is $174k in St. Louis and $304k in University City, so homes are more affordable in St. Louis.