RANK #585 / 996 · POP 999,703 · MO
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.4%
With over 90 municipalities, St. Louis County, Missouri, offers a diverse landscape, from historic towns like Florissant and Webster Groves to more affluent areas such as Chesterfield and Clayton. The county seat, Clayton, features a downtown business district with dining and is home to Washington University. The county is bordered by the Missouri River to the north and the Meramec River to the south, providing natural boundaries and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Residents have access to a variety of green spaces, including over 70 parks, and can utilize public transportation options like MetroLink and MetroBus for commutes within the county and to the independent city of St. Louis.
Life in St. Louis County often balances suburban comfort with accessibility to urban amenities. Many families reside here, drawn by the public school districts, which include highly-rated systems like Parkway and Rockwood. The economy is experiencing growth in sectors such as agriculture, utilities, and manufacturing. There is also ongoing investment in community development, including projects focused on affordable housing and revitalizing commercial areas.
Well below national median
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.7x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Big Hollow Energy Center (Natural Gas & Battery Storage)
Ameren Missouri
|
$1,200M | Approved |
|
ICL Battery Materials Manufacturing Plant
ICL Group
|
$400M | Under Construction |
|
Reform Renewable Energy Center (Solar Farm)
Ameren Missouri
|
$250M | Planned |
|
St. Louis County 2050 Comprehensive Plan Implementation (Spanish Lake Small Area Study)
St. Louis County Department of Planning
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Vandalia Renewable Energy Center
Ameren Missouri
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Bowling Green Renewable Energy Center
Ameren Missouri
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
St. Louis County has a Boom Town Index score of 41/100, ranking #585 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.2% and a median household income of $78,067, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in St. Louis County is $249,400 with median rent at $1,119/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.313, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.2%. Home values changed +1.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.64% of St. Louis County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.