In St. Louis city, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in three dollars of the typical household's income
In St. Louis city, 30.0% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is higher than in 96% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 94% 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 combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
St. Louis city does better than most counties on one measure: adults 25 to 54 not working (18.6%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where St. Louis city ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 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
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income30.0% · fiscal year 202796th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.6% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
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- 83.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind11.1% · August 202595th percentile
- People with a credit card behind7.2% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.9% · Q4 202579th percentile
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- 77.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line32.4% · 202494th percentile
- People with a disability16.8% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$53,962 · 202484th percentile
- People below the poverty line21.8% · 202491st percentile
- People without health insurance9.3% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
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- 48.7 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.6% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average4.3% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202660th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in St. Louis city comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
St. Louis city
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In St. Louis city in 2024, pay from work was 62 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 16 cents. Benefit checks were 22 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 11 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In St. Louis city, benefit checks rose from 11 to 22 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, St. Louis city, Missouri: 22.4% and 61.5% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
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.
How St. Louis city has changed
The number of people living in St. Louis city fell by about 57% between 1969 and 2024, from 643,197 to 279,695. The number of jobs located there fell by about 20% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 8.5% in 1990 to 4.6% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 643,197 | 2024 279,695 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 278,463 | 2024 221,464 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.5% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 30.6% | 2024 21.8% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $18,335 | 2024 $53,962 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 11.3% | 2024 22.4% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in St. Louis city's history
Largest decennial census count
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
1764
The city was founded on February 14, 1764, by French fur traders Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, Pierre Laclède, and Auguste Chouteau. Wikipedia
1959
Tornado: $25 million in property damage, 11 deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
Flash flood: $85 million in property damage, one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
Thunderstorm wind: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
Tornado: $1.6 billion in property damage, four deaths. 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
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
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 | 94 | 21.8% | 22.4% |
| St. Clair County, IL | 68 | 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 Aug 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.
St. Louis city in photographs
Places in St. Louis city from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
A montage of St.
Photo: see above. Compilation: Redcody via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot (192 m) monument in St.
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St. Louis city, Missouri: common questions
What is the poverty rate in St. Louis city, Missouri?
21.8% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in five people. Among children it was 32.4%.
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.
What is the population of St. Louis city, Missouri?
About 279,695 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 301,578, 35% of the county's peak of 856,796 in 1950.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of household finances and the economy, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in St. Louis city
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Better Family Life, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (H.O.P.E)
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestment Corporation
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,298 approved agencies 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 Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- 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.