City · Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, city, in St. Louis city, Missouri. St. Louis had 278,144 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 7.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 301,578 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 288,512 (controlled total). GEOID 2965000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
278,144
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 301,578 · ACS 2020-2024: 288,512
Median household income
$56,160
±$1,305 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$197,500
±$6,302 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$997
±$15 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is St. Louis and what county is it in?
St. Louis is a city in St. Louis city, Missouri. It covers 61.7 square miles of land, 4,886 residents per square mile in 2020.
St. Louis is in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
St. Louis covers the same area as St. Louis city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are St. Louis's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in St. Louis, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 278,144 people lived in St. Louis on July 1, 2025, down 7.7% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. The 2020 Census counted 301,578 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 288,512.
| Measure | St. Louis | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 288,512 | 6,191,814 | −19,662 |
| Households | 144,891 ±1,211 | 2,508,227 | +2,939 |
| Average household size | 1.92 ±0.02 | 2.40 | −0.18 |
| Housing units | 174,111 ±132 | 2,825,287 | −2,618 |
St. Louis's population since 2000
From 348,189 in 2000 to 278,144 in 2025: down 20.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for St. Louis as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in St. Louis?
The median resident of St. Louis is 36.8 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 15.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 44.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 42.1%. 7.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | St. Louis | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 ±0.2 | 39.0 | +1.0 |
| Under 18 years | 18.3% | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.5% ±0.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Male | 48.5% ±0.1 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.3% | 5.2% | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 44.4% ±0.1 pts | 76.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 42.1% ±0.4 pts | 10.9% | −4.1 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±0.1 pts | 2.1% | +0.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±0.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.1% ±0.4 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.4% ±0.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6% ±0.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 16.8% ±0.8 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.3% ±0.6 pts | 8.8% | −1.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.8% ±0.5 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.1% ±0.7 pts | 32.4% | +4.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.6% ±0.7 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.5% ±0.7 pts | 87.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in St. Louis earn?
Half of St. Louis's 144,891 households earn less than $56,160 a year (±$1,305), against $56,160 in St. Louis city and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 the median was $54,023 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,137 after inflation. 20.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | St. Louis | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,160 ±$1,305 | $70,702 | +$2,137 |
| Mean household income | $81,764 ±$2,015 | $96,247 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,187 ±$997 | $39,695 | +$3,599 |
| People below the poverty line | 20.6% ±1.0 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.7% ±2.7 pts | 15.8% | −4.1 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.6% ±0.9 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.3% ±0.7 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.8% ±0.9 pts | 89.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in St. Louis?
Owners occupy 45.3% of St. Louis's occupied homes and renters 54.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $197,500 by its owner (±$6,302). The median renter pays $997 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | St. Louis | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $197,500 ±$6,302 | $230,300 | +$26,803 |
| Median gross rent | $997 ±$15 | $1,033 | −$22 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.1% ±1.7 pts | 36.6% | −3.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,487 ±$35 | $1,524 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 45.3% ±1.0 pts | 68.1% | +1.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 54.7% ±1.0 pts | 31.9% | – |
| Housing units | 174,111 ±132 | 2,825,287 | −2,618 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.1% ±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.7% ±1.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 43.4% ±1.0 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.3% ±0.4 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 57.9% ±1.1 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 18.5% ±1.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is St. Louis building?
Builders took permits for 272 new housing units in St. Louis in 2025 (57 in single-family houses), 1.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in St. Louis work and get to work?
64.1% of St. Louis's workers drive alone and 17.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.
| Measure | St. Louis | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.5% ±0.8 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% ±0.6 pts | 4.0% | −2.0 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 64.1% ±1.1 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.8% ±0.7 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 5.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 3.8% ±0.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.0% ±0.8 pts | 13.0% | +12.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.1 min ±0.4 | 23.5 min | −2.3 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in St. Louis?
104 census tracts lie mostly in St. Louis (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $14,719 (Tract 1072) to $127,772 (Tract 1172).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1143St. Louis city | 5,627 | $85,113 |
| Tract 1153St. Louis city | 5,331 | $61,726 |
| Tract 1256St. Louis city | 5,310 | $68,750 |
| Tract 1155St. Louis city | 5,304 | $50,871 |
| Tract 1172St. Louis city | 5,283 | $127,772 |
| Tract 1022St. Louis city | 5,018 | $94,216 |
| Tract 1193St. Louis city | 4,759 | $31,434 |
| Tract 1241St. Louis city | 4,724 | $41,516 |
| Tract 1272St. Louis city | 4,571 | $74,982 |
| Tract 1274St. Louis city | 4,457 | $43,476 |
| Tract 1121St. Louis city | 4,339 | $61,650 |
| Tract 1273St. Louis city | 4,301 | $53,558 |
Every census tract in St. Louis: the tract table of St. Louis city
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in St. Louis) · Census block assignment files
How does St. Louis compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, St. Louis is the 80th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
St. Louis ranks 221st of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 388th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 14th | 420 |
| Median household income | 221st | 416 |
| Per capita income | 77th | 420 |
| Median home value | 134th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 131st | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 101st | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55th | 404 |
| Median age | 265th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 401st | 418 |
| Work from home | 63rd | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 223rd | 420 |
St. Louis's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare St. Louis with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for St. Louis?
1 of the 57 figures for St. Louis on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for St. Louis are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in St. Louis.