University City is a Democratic stronghold. About 84% of voters here vote Democratic and 16% Republican.
About 69% of adults in University City typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in University City, ~58% vote Democratic, ~11% Republican, and ~31% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How University City compares
Among cities within 25 miles, University City leans more Democratic than 141 of 176 neighbors.
University City runs about 87 points more Democratic than Missouri as a whole. Missouri leans Republican overall, while University City is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within University City. The northeast side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+84) and the southwest side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+44), a spread of about 41 points.
Why University City leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per city to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for University City, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. More than 99% of residents in University City live in densely developed areas, about 64 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and University City sits in the top quarter (about 66%, above 98% of cities). University City runs against the grain of Missouri, a Democratic-leaning pocket in a Republican-leaning state.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; University City, MO sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure. Paved ground does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban and built-up a place is.
Why turnout in University City looks the way it does
Areas with strong routine healthcare access turn out at higher rates. University City is in the top quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 65%, about 5 points above the U.S. average of 60%. High high-school completion lines up with higher turnout, and about 96% of adults in University City have completed high school, above 87% of cities. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Pagedale, MO D+82
- Clayton, MO D+60
- Vinita Terrace, MO D+68
- Hanley Hills, MO D+76
- Vinita Park, MO D+66
- Wellston, MO D+83
- Greendale, MO D+78
- Richmond Heights, MO D+50
- Olivette, MO D+53
- Hillsdale, MO D+85
Cities with Similar Populations
- Greeneville, TN R+57
- Bowling Green, OH D+16
- American Fork, UT R+36
- Deer Park, TX R+38
- Shelton, WA R+3
- Alamo, TX R+3
- Ossining, NY D+25
- Inman, SC R+47
- Paramus, NJ R+12
- Lenoir, NC R+40
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Missouri Secretary of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.