Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Tan Valley, AZ
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
83% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $35,525 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Rent averages $791/mo less ($938 vs $1,729)
Homes cost $130k less ($174,100 vs $304,000)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $35,525/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
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$35,525
$88,466 vs $52,941/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
83% lower
235.7 vs 1367.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$130k less
$174,100 vs $304,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Tan Valley, AZ | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,000 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,729⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,466 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.2 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.3% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,207 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.4% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Tan Valley's cost of living index is 100.0 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley to St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($88,466 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Tan Valley, AZ and St. Louis, MO are about 1,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.