In St. Louis city, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In St. Louis city, 30.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 96% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 93% of U.S. counties.
What drives St. Louis city's score
In St. Louis city, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 94.8. Bankruptcy filings ran at 479.1 per 100,000 people (2025), higher than in 98% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 88.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in St. Louis city: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
St. Louis city does better than most counties on one measure: adults 25 to 54 not working (18.6%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector38.1% · August 202591st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people479.1 · 202598th percentile
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- 88.6 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.6% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income30.0% · fiscal year 202796th percentile
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- 83.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.2% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind11.1% · August 202595th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score49.7% · second quarter of 202679th percentile
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- 77.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line21.8% · 202491st percentile
- Children below the poverty line32.4% · 202494th percentile
- People with a disability16.8% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- People without health insurance9.3% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$53,962 · 202484th percentile
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- 48.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202660th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.6% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in St. Louis city comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In St. Louis city, 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
St. Louis city
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in St. Louis city rose most sharply from its first year (11.3% in 1969) to 16.7% in 1974.
In St. Louis city, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 22.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In St. Louis city, Missouri, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 22.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in St. Louis city getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 19.7% in 2009 to 21.7% in 2010.
The share of households in St. Louis city getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 18.0% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, St. Louis city, Missouri.
How St. Louis city has changed
St. Louis city's population fell by more than half to 279,695, the lowest on the chart
Biggest drop: 1969 to 1974, reaching 530,777. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, St. Louis city, Missouri.
The number of jobs located in St. Louis city had its largest drop, from 250,644 in 2000 to 222,519 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in St. Louis city fell by about a quarter from 1990 to 2020, reaching 212,636, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 278,463 in 1990. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, St. Louis city, Missouri.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.5% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 30.6% | 2024 21.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $18,335 | 2024 $53,962 |
The table uses 4.6% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in St. Louis city's history
1764
The city was founded on February 14, 1764, by French fur traders Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, Pierre Laclède, and Auguste Chouteau. Wikipedia
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 856,796. The 2020 Census counted 301,578, 35% of the peak. Census Bureau
1959
A tornado in February 1959 did $25 million in property damage and killed 11 people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A flash flood in July 2022 did $85 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
A thunderstorm in July 2023 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
A tornado in May 2025 did $1.6 billion in property damage and killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered St. Louis city, 16 of them for flooding. FEMA
St. Louis city beside its neighbors
St. Louis city scores higher than all three counties that border it, in Missouri and Illinois. For the share of income from benefit checks, St. Louis city ranks 3rd of the four; St. Clair County is highest, at 25.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis city, MO | 93 | 21.8% | 22.4% |
| St. Clair County, IL | 67 | 12.7% | 25.9% |
| Madison County, IL | 40 | 9.6% | 22.8% |
| St. Louis County, MO | 40 | 9.8% | 13.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is St. Louis city the poorest county in Missouri?
No, St. Louis city's poverty rate was 21.8% in 2024, 5th highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, St. Louis city ranks 6th of 115 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in St. Louis city
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Better Family Life, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestment Corporation
HUD-approved housing counselor
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NSC (NACA Counseling Subsidiary) - St. Louis, MO
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for St. Louis city · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in St. Louis city comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.