RANK #666 / 1001 NAT · #20 / 22 MO · POP 995,569
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
With over 90 municipalities, St. Louis County, Missouri, offers a diverse landscape, from historic towns like Florissant and Webster Groves to more affluent areas such as Chesterfield and Clayton. The county seat, Clayton, features a downtown business district with dining and is home to Washington University. The county is bordered by the Missouri River to the north and the Meramec River to the south, providing natural boundaries and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Residents have access to a variety of green spaces, including over 70 parks, and can utilize public transportation options like MetroLink and MetroBus for commutes within the county and to the independent city of St. Louis.
Life in St. Louis County often balances suburban comfort with accessibility to urban amenities. Many families reside here, drawn by the public school districts, which include highly-rated systems like Parkway and Rockwood. The economy is experiencing growth in sectors such as agriculture, utilities, and manufacturing. There is also ongoing investment in community development, including projects focused on affordable housing and revitalizing commercial areas.
St. Louis County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.6% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.9x 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Big Hollow Energy Center (Natural Gas & Battery Storage)
Ameren Missouri
|
$1,200M | Approved |
|
ICL Battery Materials Manufacturing Plant
ICL Group
|
$400M | Under Construction |
|
Reform Renewable Energy Center (Solar Farm)
Ameren Missouri
|
$250M | Planned |
|
St. Louis County 2050 Comprehensive Plan Implementation (Spanish Lake Small Area Study)
St. Louis County Department of Planning
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Vandalia Renewable Energy Center
Ameren Missouri
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Bowling Green Renewable Energy Center
Ameren Missouri
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 33/100, St. Louis County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $82,936 combined with job growth of -1.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in St. Louis County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $276,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,209/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
St. Louis County's job market is contracting (-1.2% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.1% change). Home values are +1.6% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.46% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Louis County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.