Kansas City, MO vs St. Louis, MO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Kansas CityKansas City, MO | St. LouisSt. Louis, MO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Average | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
+1.0% job growth year-over-year in Kansas City, MO contrasts with -0.9% in St. Louis, MO, a 1.9-point difference in 2023 Census figures. Kansas City's cost of living index of 93 is 21% higher than St. Louis's 77, placing Kansas City in the 43rd percentile and St. Louis in the 25th. Median household income in Kansas City is $67,449, 22% higher than St. Louis's $55,279, and median rent is $1,186 versus $978, a 21% difference.
Population density differs sharply: St. Louis has 4,749 people per square mile, 2.9 times higher than Kansas City's 1,616, putting St. Louis in the 91st percentile and Kansas City in the 50th. Average household size is 2.3 in Kansas City, 16% larger than St. Louis's 2.0, with Kansas City in the 28th percentile and St. Louis in the 4th. The poverty rate in St. Louis is 19.8%, 5.2 points higher than Kansas City's 14.6%, placing St. Louis in the 81st percentile and Kansas City in the 64th.
Violent crime rates are high in both, with Kansas City at 1,369 per 100,000 and St. Louis at 1,224, both in the 99th percentile. Property crime is 27% higher in St. Louis at 5,030 per 100,000 versus 3,963 in Kansas City. Traffic deaths per 100,000 are 47 in St. Louis, 76% higher than Kansas City's 27, with St. Louis in the 88th percentile and Kansas City in the 72nd.
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 | Kansas City, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 9343rd pctl | 7725th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Kansas City, MO 93; St. Louis, MO 77; Kansas City is 21% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $227,00037th pctl | $185,10023rd pctl | Median home value: Kansas City, MO $227,000; St. Louis, MO $185,100; Kansas City is 23% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,18649th pctl | $97829th pctl | Median rent: Kansas City, MO $1,186; St. Louis, MO $978; Kansas City is 21% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $67,44942nd pctl | $55,27921st pctl | Median household income: Kansas City, MO $67,449; St. Louis, MO $55,279; Kansas City is 22% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $44,10236th pctl | $35,96223rd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Kansas City, MO $44,102; St. Louis, MO $35,962; Kansas City is 23% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $64,83036th pctl | $52,86423rd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Kansas City, MO $64,830; St. Louis, MO $52,864; Kansas City is 23% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in St. Louis needs about
$62,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 93 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 | Kansas City, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 4.2%74th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | -0.9%7th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Kansas City, MO +1.0%; St. Louis, MO -0.9%; Kansas City is 1.9 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $40,11257th pctl | $38,94753rd pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 14.6%64th pctl | 19.8%81st pctl | Poverty rate: Kansas City, MO 14.6%; St. Louis, MO 19.8%; St. Louis is 5.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 21.9 min39th pctl | 22.2 min42nd pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 14.8%69th pctl | 15.0%70th pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 1,36999th pctl | 1,22499th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Kansas City, MO 1,369; St. Louis, MO 1,224; Kansas City is 12% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,96397th pctl | 5,03099th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Kansas City, MO 3,963; St. Louis, MO 5,030; St. Louis is 27% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Kansas City, MO D; St. Louis, MO F; Kansas City is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Kansas City, 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 isn't available for St. Louis, MO; 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 | Kansas City, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 3 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Kansas City, MO 2 mi; St. Louis, MO 3 mi; St. Louis is 19% higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 653 mi87th pctl | 517 mi71st pctl | Distance to international border: Kansas City, MO 653 mi; St. Louis, MO 517 mi; Kansas City is 26% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 639 mi79th pctl | 560 mi73rd pctl | Distance to coastline: Kansas City, MO 639 mi; St. Louis, MO 560 mi; Kansas City is 14% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | St. Louis, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 508,23399th pctl | 293,10997th pctl | Population: Kansas City, MO 508,233; St. Louis, MO 293,109; Kansas City is 73% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,61650th pctl | 4,74991st pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Kansas City, MO 1,616; St. Louis, MO 4,749; St. Louis is 2.9 times higher. |
| Median age | 35.731st pctl | 36.638th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.8%63rd pctl | 40.2%67th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Kansas City, MO 37.8%; St. Louis, MO 40.2%; St. Louis is 2.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.328th pctl | 24th pctl | Average household size: Kansas City, MO 2.3; St. Louis, MO 2; Kansas City is 16% larger. |
More about Kansas City'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 | Kansas CityKansas City, MO | St. LouisSt. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+12 | D+29 |
| 2024 presidential | D +24.0 pts | D +57.0 pts |
Full politics data: Kansas City · St. Louis
Moving between Kansas City and St. Louis
- Median rent: $1,186 in Kansas City, $978 in St. Louis
- Median home value: $227,000 in Kansas City, $185,100 in St. Louis
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 93 in Kansas City, 77 in St. Louis
- Median household income: $67,449 in Kansas City, $55,279 in St. Louis
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $64,830 in Kansas City, $52,864 in St. Louis
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Kansas City, 4.2% in St. Louis
- Average commute: 21.9 min in Kansas City, 22.2 min in St. Louis
- Violent crime per 100k: 1,369 in Kansas City, 1,224 in St. Louis
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- 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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