City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Lake St. Louis, MO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lake St. Louis - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

17,538
Residents
$123,427
Median income
$375,300
Median home
$1,218
Median rent (state)

Lake St. Louis - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lake St. Louis places in the 88th percentile for household income and the 78th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

88th
percentile, household income
75th
percentile, home value
38th
percentile, median rent
78th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lake St. Louis, MO

Missouri's Lake St. Louis is a small town, with 17,538 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $123,427 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. Home values in Lake St. Louis run a median of $375,300, and the median resident age is 43.2 years. 49.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 29 residential building permits were authorized in Lake St. Louis (Construction Slowdown), down 84% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Lake St. Louis reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 662.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Missouri scores 90.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,218 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Missouri run around $219, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 92.6 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

17,538 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$123,427 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Lake St. Louis compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lake St. Louis stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 88% higher than other cities
Home value 75% pricier than other cities
Median rent 38% pricier than other cities
Safety 78% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Missouri alone, Lake St. Louis ranks #39 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lake St. Louis against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Missouri only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Missouri-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Lake St. Louis's strongest outlier among Missouri cities

Among the 833 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Lake St. Louis ranks #41 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lake St. Louis only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#34 of 842
96th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#108 of 875
69th percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#41 of 833
95th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#634 of 875
27th percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#56 of 875
94th percentile in Missouri

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Missouri only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

88thIncome percentile
78thSafety percentile

88th percentile nationally for median household income · 78th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lake St. Louis's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lake St. Louis's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 70 Avg. percentile National median
Lake St. Louis's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lake St. Louis's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$375,300 25th percentile more affordable than 25% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lake St. Louis $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lake St. Louis, MO Lake St. Louis, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lake St. Louis, MO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lake St. Louis, MO median $123,427/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lake St. Louis, MO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lake St. Louis, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
17,538
Median Income
$123,427
Median Home Value
$375,300
Median Age
43.2
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
64.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
662.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
56.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
605.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
16,000 residents17,000 residents18,000 residents19,000 residents20,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 16,804 residents 19,129 residents ▲ +13.8%
Lake St. Louis's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
29
housing units authorized
Single-Family
29
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 177
2020 300
2021 552
2022 220
2023 220
2024 29

Permit volume decreased 84% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.3%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.2%
Work from Home
18.3%

Based on 9,276 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Missouri - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lake St. Louis sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,218/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Kirksville
17,493 people
Clayton
17,282 people
Farmington
17,999 people
Concord
18,028 people
Spanish Lake
18,183 people
Manchester
18,189 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake St. Louis's 17,538 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Eastlake, OH
17,538 people
Graham, NC
17,537 people
Morganton, NC
17,541 people
Camano, WA
17,535 people
Takoma Park, MD
17,522 people
McKeesport, PA
17,520 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake St. Louis's $123,427 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Watertown, MA
$123,422 median income
Dakota Dunes, SD
$123,438 median income
South Seaville, NJ
$123,409 median income
Catlett, VA
$123,403 median income
Provincetown, MA
$123,456 median income
Lakewood Ranch, FL
$123,471 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lake St. Louis, MO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lake St. Louis, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 87.6% Black or African American 4.2% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 5.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lake St. Louis compares to nearby Missouri cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lake St. Louis (this city) 17,538 $123,427
Kirksville 17,493 $48,063
Clayton 17,282 $128,898
Farmington 17,999 $49,882
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lake St. Louis, MO?

What is the population of Lake St. Louis, MO? +

17,538 people live in Lake St. Louis, MO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lake St. Louis, MO? +

Median annual household income in Lake St. Louis runs $123,427, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lake St. Louis? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lake St. Louis; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

Is Lake St. Louis, MO safe? +

Lake St. Louis has a total crime rate of 662.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lake St. Louis, MO? +

The median home value in Lake St. Louis is $375,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.