The St. Louis metro area: Bond County, Calhoun County, Clinton County, Franklin County, Jefferson County, Jersey County, Lincoln County, Macoupin County, Madison County, Monroe County, St. Charles County, St. Clair County, St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Warren County · Population 2,810,850 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the St. Louis area
Household size in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in the St. Louis area has 2.46 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.52, as it has nationally. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the St. Louis area are younger than 40.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in the St. Louis area as they are nationally: 11.1%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the St. Louis area
Renters in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.1% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.6% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in the St. Louis area rent their homes (29.6%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than a third of owners (37.2%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in the St. Louis area is close to the national rate: 8.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Missouri overall (10.5%). Vacancy is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in the St. Louis area run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $825 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $920 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,010 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,239 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$414 | +$383 | +$606 |
The median renter in the St. Louis area pays $1,239 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Missouri overall ($1,122). Rent has climbed $414 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the St. Louis area
Bachelor's degrees in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.9% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.5% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the St. Louis area as nationally: 38.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Missouri overall (32.6%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.3 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the St. Louis area is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few large metro areas have a higher share of high school graduates: only seven of 100.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the St. Louis area
| Period | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the St. Louis area runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 3.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the St. Louis area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis area (all) | 2.46 | 40.8 | 11.1% | 29.6% | 8.8% | 1975 | $1,239 | 38.5% | 93.6% | 4.3% |
| St. Charles | 2.36 | 41.3 | 8.3% | 24.6% | 5.7% | 1985 | $1,405 | 43.6% | 95.7% | 3.2% |
| St. Peters | 2.52 | 41.7 | 8.4% | 18.2% | 4.7% | 1988 | $1,493 | 39.3% | 95.6% | 2.7% |
| Florissant | 2.52 | 39.7 | 16.7% | 32.6% | 8.6% | 1967 | $1,353 | 26.6% | 93.1% | 4.8% |
| O'fallon | 2.64 | 39.7 | 9.7% | 20.4% | 3.7% | 1996 | $1,403 | 39.3% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Belleville | 2.36 | 40.8 | 14.5% | 33.8% | 10.8% | 1967 | $1,105 | 29.9% | 94.3% | 5.0% |
| Ballwin | 2.54 | 43.6 | 5.4% | 15.0% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,571 | 65.9% | 97.7% | 4.1% |
| Chesterfield | 2.41 | 46.2 | 5.8% | 22.5% | 5.4% | 1983 | $1,805 | 72.0% | 98.0% | 3.1% |
| Wentzville | 2.85 | 37.6 | 9.8% | 16.7% | 2.9% | 2005 | $1,361 | 40.3% | 94.1% | 2.9% |
| Fenton | 2.64 | 42.4 | 7.1% | 20.3% | 6.0% | 1989 | $1,306 | 44.9% | 95.2% | 2.1% |
| Oakville | 2.55 | 44.3 | 6.3% | 13.9% | 2.4% | 1983 | $1,135 | 44.1% | 96.3% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Sacramento area · Pittsburgh area · San Antonio area · Charlotte area · Orlando area · Baltimore area · Denver area · Portland area · Tampa area · San Diego area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the St. Louis area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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