Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Louis, MO
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories
St. Louis
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018
Stockton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($174,100 vs $382,000)
Rent averages $479/mo less ($938 vs $1,417)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $18,671/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
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,671 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than St. Louis
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Louis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$208k less
$174,100 vs $382,000
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$18,671
$71,612 vs $52,941/yr
Stockton
Violent Crime
16% lower
1145.8 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Stockton
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $174,100 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $938 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,941 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 325⚠ High | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 360⚠ High | 302⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 272⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.6% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LOUIS CITY | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 298,018 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Louis's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 12 of 23 categories. St. Louis wins 12 and Stockton wins 11. 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 St. Louis to Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,100 vs $382,000 median home), income ($52,941 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Louis, MO and Stockton, CA are about 1,677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.