Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
St. Louis
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
42% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $19,151 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($174,100 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $384/mo less ($938 vs $1,322)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Phoenix
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $19,151/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
Phoenix
Median Income
$19,151
$72,092 vs $52,941/yr
Phoenix
Violent Crime
42% lower
799.6 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$166k less
$174,100 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 298,018 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and St. Louis wins 10. 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 Phoenix to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($72,092 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and St. Louis, MO are about 1,265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.