Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 22 categories
Richmond
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171
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, VA
Pros
75% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $6,665 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($174,100 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($938 vs $1,227)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
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
Median income trails Richmond by $6,665/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$6,665
$59,606 vs $52,941/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
75% lower
336.9 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$134k less
$174,100 vs $308,300
St. Louis
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 44.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 22 categories. Richmond wins 9 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 ($308,300 vs $174,100 median home), income ($59,606 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and St. Louis, MO are about 698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.