Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 16 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
St. Louis
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
62% less violent crime than St. Louis
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Louis by $11,100/yr
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $11,100 more per year on average
Rent averages $216/mo less ($938 vs $1,154)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $25k less ($174,100 vs $198,900)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Violent Crime
62% lower
515.8 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 96.1 on the COL index
St. Louis
Median Income
$11,100
$52,941 vs $41,841/yr
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$25k less
$174,100 vs $198,900
St. Louis
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 10.6% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $52,941 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 44.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 16 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 7 and St. Louis wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hartford to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $174,100 median home), income ($41,841 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and St. Louis, MO are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.