St. Louis County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.0 | 987,059 people · 107th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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St. Louis County, MO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.0 — 2760th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Missouri, it ranks 107th of 115 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. St. Louis County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 64.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 64.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Debt & Delinquency 48.2
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 55
Student Loan Delinquency 2
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Community Vulnerability 20.9
Uninsured Rate 27
Disability Rate 15
Employment & Wages 16.8
Unemployment Rate 34
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Business Formation Rate 10
Income & Poverty 14.9
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 22

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How St. Louis County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. St. Louis County
St. Louis County, MO 33.0 Healthy —
St. Louis city, MO 61.2 Elevated +28.3
St. Clair County, IL 54.6 Elevated +21.7
Madison County, IL 44.2 Normal +11.2
Franklin County, MO 38.3 Normal +5.3
Jefferson County, MO 35.7 Normal +2.8
Monroe County, IL 22.2 Healthy -10.7
St. Charles County, MO 22.0 Healthy -11.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. St. Louis County
Frederick County, MD 32.9 Healthy -0.1
Jefferson County, CO 33.3 Healthy +0.4
Utah County, UT 32.5 Healthy -0.4
Anoka County, MN 32.5 Healthy -0.5
McHenry County, IL 33.7 Healthy +0.8

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for St. Louis County as a CSV file.

Find Help in St. Louis County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near St. Louis County.

BEYOND HOUSING
Saint Louis
314-533-0600 Website
Financial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, INC. (CAASTLC)
Saint Louis
314-863-0015 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement
HOUSING OPTIONS PROVIDED FOR THE ELDERLY (H.O.P.E)
University City
844-432-6467 Website
Reverse Mortgage
HOUSING OPTIONS PROVIDED FOR THE ELDERLY(HOPE)
University City
844-432-6467 Website
Foreclosure PreventionReverse Mortgage
THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, INC.
Saint Louis
314-631-9905 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Missouri →

Find an Attorney

Missouri Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Missouri Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 573-635-4128

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving St. Louis County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri 314-534-4200 (St. Louis); 1-800-444-0514 (statewide hotline)
Legal Aid of Western Missouri 816-474-6750 (Kansas City); 1-800-748-2057 (statewide hotline)
Central Missouri Legal Services 573-442-0116
The Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) 816-474-6750
Legal Services of Southern Missouri (417) 881-1397
Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation (573) 442-0116

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Missouri →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for St. Louis County, Missouri?

    St. Louis County has a County Distress Index score of 33.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,760th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 107th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in St. Louis County?

    The primary driver of distress in St. Louis County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 64.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does St. Louis County compare to neighboring counties?

    St. Louis County (33.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: St. Louis city, MO (61.2); St. Clair County, IL (54.6); Madison County, IL (44.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of St. Louis County?

    St. Louis County, Missouri has a population of approximately 987,059 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.