Boone
RANK #772 / 996 NAT · #21 / 22 MO · POP 406,262
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Historic St. Charles, the county seat, offers a distinctive charm with its preserved 19th-century architecture and cobblestone streets along the Missouri River. This city, once Missouri's first state capital and the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is about 30 minutes northwest of St. Louis, making it a feasible commute for many. The community provides a blend of suburban living with access to extensive outdoor recreation, including the Katy Trail State Park, a 240-mile rail-trail popular for biking and hiking, and numerous county parks like Klondike Park with river views and camping.
Life in the county appeals to families and professionals, drawn by highly-rated public school districts and a generally high quality of life. Commute options to St. Louis are available via major highways, and local transportation services exist within the City of St. Charles. The economy is experiencing growth, with recent investments in sectors such as data centers, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. This economic activity, coupled with a growing population, contributes to a positive outlook for the area.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Foristell Data Center Campuses (2 sites)
Undisclosed (firms representing two potential data center users)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
St. Charles Data Center (formerly Project Cumulus)
Google (linked to Spark Innovations, developed by Clayco's CRG)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Mastercard Solar Farm
Mastercard
|
$50M | Planned |
|
I-70 Improvements (Warrenton to Wentzville, Wentzville Parkway to Route Z)
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
New Home Communities Portfolio (multiple developments)
Various (e.g., Houston Homes, McBride Homes, McKelvey Homes, Reisch-Sansone, Vancil Brothers Realty)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
St. Charles City Hall/Main Street/Riverpointe District Infrastructure Deal
St. Charles County and City of St. Charles
|
$29M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 22/100, St. Charles County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $99,596 combined with job growth of +1.3% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, St. Charles County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $278,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,209/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
St. Charles County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.0% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.3% clip. Home values shifted +1.0% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.29% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Charles County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.