Chesterfield, MO vs St. Louis, MO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | ChesterfieldChesterfield, MO | St. LouisSt. Louis, MO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 904 property crimes per 100,000 people, Chesterfield, MO and St. Louis, MO sit far apart on public safety, with St. Louis recording 5,030 per 100,000, a 5.6× higher rate that places it in the 99th percentile. Violent crime shows a similar gap: Chesterfield’s 120 per 100,000 sits in the 24th percentile, while St. Louis’s 1,224 per 100,000 ranks in the 99th percentile, a 10.2× difference. The 2025 FBI figures also show violent crime trending rising in Chesterfield but falling in St. Louis.
Income and housing costs diverge even more sharply. In 2023 Census figures, Chesterfield’s median household income of $133,380 is 2.4× higher than St. Louis’s $55,279, and its per-capita income of $77,646 is 99% higher than the $38,947 recorded in St. Louis. The poverty rate stands at 3.3% in Chesterfield versus 19.8% in St. Louis, a 16.5-point gap. Median home values follow the same pattern: $458,000 in Chesterfield (79th percentile) compared with $185,100 in St. Louis (23rd percentile), a 2.5× difference. Median rent is $1,553 versus $978, with Chesterfield 59% higher.
The comfortable income thresholds for 2024 reflect these gaps: a single person needs $88,982 in Chesterfield versus $35,962 in St. Louis, while a family of four needs $130,803 compared with $52,864, both 2.5× higher in Chesterfield. The cost-of-living index stands at 145 in Chesterfield (76th percentile) versus 77 in St. Louis (25th percentile), an 88% difference. Unemployment runs 3.7% in Chesterfield and 4.2% in St. Louis, while the average commute is nearly identical at 21.9 and 22.2 minutes.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Chesterfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 14576th pctl | 7725th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Chesterfield, MO 145; St. Louis, MO 77; Chesterfield is 88% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $458,00079th pctl | $185,10023rd pctl | Median home value: Chesterfield, MO $458,000; St. Louis, MO $185,100; Chesterfield is 2.5 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,55372nd pctl | $97829th pctl | Median rent: Chesterfield, MO $1,553; St. Louis, MO $978; Chesterfield is 59% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $133,38091st pctl | $55,27921st pctl | Median household income: Chesterfield, MO $133,380; St. Louis, MO $55,279; Chesterfield is 2.4 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $88,98280th pctl | $35,96223rd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Chesterfield, MO $88,982; St. Louis, MO $35,962; Chesterfield is 2.5 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $130,80380th pctl | $52,86423rd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Chesterfield, MO $130,803; St. Louis, MO $52,864; Chesterfield is 2.5 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in St. Louis needs about
$39,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 145 vs 77). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Chesterfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.7%52nd pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.2%17th pctl | -0.9%7th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Chesterfield, MO -0.2%; St. Louis, MO -0.9%; Chesterfield is 0.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $77,64694th pctl | $38,94753rd pctl | Per-capita income: Chesterfield, MO $77,646; St. Louis, MO $38,947; Chesterfield is 99% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 3.3%6th pctl | 19.8%81st pctl | Poverty rate: Chesterfield, MO 3.3%; St. Louis, MO 19.8%; St. Louis is 16.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.9 min39th pctl | 22.2 min42nd pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 24.2%90th pctl | 15.0%70th pctl | Work from home: Chesterfield, MO 24.2%; St. Louis, MO 15.0%; Chesterfield is 9.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | Economic opportunity: Chesterfield, MO B; St. Louis, MO D+; Chesterfield is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Chesterfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 12024th pctl | 1,22499th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Chesterfield, MO 120; St. Louis, MO 1,224; St. Louis is 10.2 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 90428th pctl | 5,03099th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Chesterfield, MO 904; St. Louis, MO 5,030; St. Louis is 5.6 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Chesterfield, MO A; St. Louis, MO F; Chesterfield is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Chesterfield, MO A-; St. Louis, MO F; Chesterfield is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Chesterfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClimateClimate comfort | Humid | Humid | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: air quality, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Missouri, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Missouri →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Chesterfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 21 mi27th pctl | 3 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Chesterfield, MO 21 mi; St. Louis, MO 3 mi; Chesterfield is 8.2 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Poor | Target proximity: Chesterfield, MO B; St. Louis, MO D-; Chesterfield is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 531 mi73rd pctl | 517 mi71st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 566 mi74th pctl | 560 mi73rd pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Chesterfield, MO C; St. Louis, MO D; Chesterfield is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Chesterfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,59173rd pctl | 293,10997th pctl | Population: Chesterfield, MO 49,591; St. Louis, MO 293,109; St. Louis is 5.9 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,55948th pctl | 4,74991st pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Chesterfield, MO 1,559; St. Louis, MO 4,749; St. Louis is 3.0 times higher. |
| Median age | 46.990th pctl | 36.638th pctl | Median age: Chesterfield, MO 46.9; St. Louis, MO 36.6; Chesterfield is 10.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.4%95th pctl | 40.2%67th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Chesterfield, MO 72.4%; St. Louis, MO 40.2%; Chesterfield is 32.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.439th pctl | 24th pctl | Average household size: Chesterfield, MO 2.4; St. Louis, MO 2; Chesterfield is 20% larger. |
More about Chesterfield's residents · St. Louis's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | ChesterfieldChesterfield, MO | St. LouisSt. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+4 | D+29 |
| 2024 presidential | R +8.0 pts | D +57.0 pts |
Full politics data: Chesterfield · St. Louis
Moving between Chesterfield and St. Louis
- Median rent: $1,553 in Chesterfield, $978 in St. Louis
- Median home value: $458,000 in Chesterfield, $185,100 in St. Louis
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 145 in Chesterfield, 77 in St. Louis
- Median household income: $133,380 in Chesterfield, $55,279 in St. Louis
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $130,803 in Chesterfield, $52,864 in St. Louis
- Unemployment: 3.7% in Chesterfield, 4.2% in St. Louis
- Average commute: 21.9 min in Chesterfield, 22.2 min in St. Louis
- Violent crime per 100k: 120 in Chesterfield, 1,224 in St. Louis
Weigh these by what matters to you
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More places like Chesterfield and St. Louis
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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