RANK #603 / 996 · POP 406,262 · MO
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.4%
Historic St. Charles, the county seat, offers a distinctive charm with its preserved 19th-century architecture and cobblestone streets along the Missouri River. This city, once Missouri's first state capital and the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is about 30 minutes northwest of St. Louis, making it a feasible commute for many. The community provides a blend of suburban living with access to extensive outdoor recreation, including the Katy Trail State Park, a 240-mile rail-trail popular for biking and hiking, and numerous county parks like Klondike Park with river views and camping.
Life in the county appeals to families and professionals, drawn by highly-rated public school districts and a generally high quality of life. Commute options to St. Louis are available via major highways, and local transportation services exist within the City of St. Charles. The economy is experiencing growth, with recent investments in sectors such as data centers, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. This economic activity, coupled with a growing population, contributes to a positive outlook for the area.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.4x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Foristell Data Center Campuses (2 sites)
Undisclosed (firms representing two potential data center users)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
St. Charles Data Center (formerly Project Cumulus)
Google (linked to Spark Innovations, developed by Clayco's CRG)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Mastercard Solar Farm
Mastercard
|
$50M | Planned |
|
I-70 Improvements (Warrenton to Wentzville, Wentzville Parkway to Route Z)
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
New Home Communities Portfolio (multiple developments)
Various (e.g., Houston Homes, McBride Homes, McKelvey Homes, Reisch-Sansone, Vancil Brothers Realty)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
St. Charles City Hall/Main Street/Riverpointe District Infrastructure Deal
St. Charles County and City of St. Charles
|
$29M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
St. Charles County has a Boom Town Index score of 40/100, ranking #603 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.3% and a median household income of $99,596, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in St. Charles County is $278,300 with median rent at $1,209/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3579, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.3%. Home values changed +1.0% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.29% of St. Charles County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.