Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 15 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
St. Louis
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $34,025 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than St. Louis
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($174,100 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $804/mo less ($938 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $34,025/yr
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
Kent
Median Income
$34,025
$86,966 vs $52,941/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
64% lower
489.7 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$304k less
$174,100 vs $478,400
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 15 of 23 categories. Kent wins 8 and St. Louis wins 15. 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 Kent to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $174,100 median home), income ($86,966 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and St. Louis, MO are about 1,710 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.