Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
51% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $11,310 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 41°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $23k less ($174,100 vs $196,700)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $11,310/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$11,310
$64,251 vs $52,941/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
51% lower
676.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$23k less
$174,100 vs $196,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 14 and St. Louis wins 9. 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 Oklahoma City to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($64,251 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and St. Louis, MO are about 457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.