St. Louis County, MO

This county of 273,603 residents needs 1,985 more housing units over the next five years. St. Louis County is part of the East-West Gateway Council of Government.

Housing snapshot

Population
273,603 (2026)
Households
141,011
Median household income
$62,696 (2026)
Typical home value
$186,566
Owner-occupied
38%
Five-year housing need
1,985 units

Comparison to other Missouri counties

St. Louis County: $62,696 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$41K >$94K
St. Louis County: 1.53 jobs to household ratio
<0.36 >1.44
St. Louis County: Permits since 2021 represent 1.7% of housing
<0% >5.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In St. Louis County, MO, the typical home price of $186,566 is below the Missouri average of $231,344. St. Louis County, MO's median household income of $62,696 puts the typical home within reach for most households.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

St. Louis County, MO has a population of roughly 288,512, though it has been declining at 1.0% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

St. Louis County, MO has roughly 141,011 households, though population has been declining at 1.0% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in St. Louis County, MO is relatively mixed, with detached single-family as the most common type at 43%. In St. Louis County, MO, renters make up the majority, with only 38% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, St. Louis County, MO needs 1,985 new units over the next 5 years.

1,985
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
1,887
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.2 per 1,000 units.
98
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.05%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
1,985
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
397
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
1.1%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.2%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?