Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
115,619
St. Louis
Missouri
13
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,677 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than St. Louis
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($174,100 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $915/mo less ($938 vs $1,853)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $33,677/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
Richmond
Median Income
$33,677
$86,618 vs $52,941/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
32% lower
923.1 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$451k less
$174,100 vs $624,800
St. Louis
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 10 and St. Louis wins 13. 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 Richmond to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($86,618 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and St. Louis, MO are about 1,733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.