CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

38.78° N · 90.79° W · GEOID 2940043

Lake St. Louis

St. Charles County, Missouri · part of the St. Louis, MO metro

MissouriLake St. Louis, MOLake St. LouisLake St. Louis

The short answer

Lake St. Louis is home to 18,066 people. Median household income is $125,693 a year and median rent is $1,588 a month, 15.2% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $405,900, about 3.2x annual median household income.

The story in Lake St. Louis is how fast things are changing. Population change slowed in the latest estimate: +0.1% from 2024 to 2025, against +3.3% a year before that. Also notable: Population growth since 2020 is 14.4%, against 3% in its closest peers.

92OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Exceptional

Lake St. Louis scores better than 92% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 22nd of 140 in Missouri.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%78
Economy 20%69
Safety 20%84
Amenities 15%27
Education 10%81
Commute 10%46
Growth 5%92
Median gross rent
$1,588
16% above the median place
Median household income
$125,693
57% above the median place
Median home value
$405,900
27% above the median place
Unemployment
4.7%
3% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Lake St. Louis

  • AffordabilityCompared with the 25 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Waconia, MN, Papillion, NE and Hugo, MN), money left after rent here is higher: $108,400 against a typical $92,000.
  • Affordability32% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 94% of the 2,222 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Lake St. Louis

St. Charles County gains about 5.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in17,923
Moved out16,105
Net+1,818

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Missouri, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within MissouriOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$74K
Leavers$71K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of St. Charles County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
8.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into St. Charles County report $74,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $71,200.
Income you would need
$63,500 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,588 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,225 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $405,900.
Getting to work
26 minutes each way on average; 21.9% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Waunakee, WI matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
8.0%
39% above the median place
Moved from another state1
2.6%
33% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people8
5.0
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureLake St. LouisAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year18.0%39% above
Moved from another state12.6%33% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure5.0above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in8County figure$74,0835% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$71,2281% above
02

What it costs to live here

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 93 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

Lake St. Louis15.2%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$63,520
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
15.2%
25% below the median place
Home price to income
3.2x
15% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
15%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$108,700
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Lake St. Louis, $1,588 a month, and local prices for everything else (98.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Lake St. Louis, but easier on the budget

Places that match Lake St. Louis on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Waunakee, WI8912.7% vs 15.2%$4,600Compare
Tyrone, GA8710.5% vs 15.2%$15,700Compare
Parkville, MO868.1% vs 15.2%$59,400Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Lake St. Louis.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Lake St. Louis? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
32.5%
36% below the median place
Median year built1
2000
1% above the median place
Vacant homes1
4.0%
43% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureLake St. LouisAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,58816% above
Rent to income115.2%25% below
Property tax rate11.1%21% above
Home price to income13.2x15% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure95.16% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,34916% below
HUD area median income4County figure$113,5006% above
Property tax paid (median)1$4,44836% above
Median home value1$405,90027% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure4.8%50% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure52.3%2% above
Homeownership175.6%14% above
Renters paying 30%+132.5%36% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,22519% above
Vacant homes14.0%43% below
Median year built120001% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Poverty rate1
4.3%
60% below the median place
Income per person1
$62,954
57% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Median household income$125,693 +57%
Works from home21.9% +76%
Unemployment4.7% −3%
Mean commute26 min +3%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureLake St. LouisAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$125,69357% above
Income per person1$62,95457% above
Unemployment14.7%3% below
Average annual pay6County figure$62,6805% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.3%16% above
Jobs6County figure162,6558% above
Poverty rate14.3%60% below
Mean commute126 min3% above
Works from home121.9%76% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 98.3%, 6% above the median place.

Homes with broadband1
98.3%
6% above the median place
Population change since 20207
14.4%
above the median place (median 1.1%)
High school or higher1
97.0%
5% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

No health insurance3.5% −45%
Bachelor's or higher51.7% +61%
Born abroad4.0% −55%
Median age42.7 +9%
Household size2.5 −2%
All 9 people measures
MeasureLake St. LouisAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population118,0662554th largest
Population change since 2020714.4%above (median 1.1%)
Median age142.79% above
Bachelor's or higher151.7%61% above
High school or higher197.0%5% above
Household size12.52% below
Born abroad14.0%55% below
No health insurance13.5%45% below
Homes with broadband198.3%6% above
05

Life in Lake St. Louis

The nearest National Park Service site is Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, about 29 miles away.

Founded or incorporated in 1961. 40 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents5.5 −46%
Playgrounds per 10k6.1 −35%
Grocery stores per 10k3.9 +83%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k3.3 −70%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails1 km −65%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site 29 miles
  • Gateway Arch National Park 34 miles
  • Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park 69 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.1 −3%
Shops25.9 −15%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.5 +10%
Doctors' offices and clinics18.5 −8%
Child care centers2.2 −4%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools14
1
89% below the median place
Public school students14
1,647
66% below the median place
Students per teacher14
17.0
10% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureLake St. LouisAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools14189% below
Public school students141,64766% below
Students per teacher1417.010% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure20.13% below
Shops per 10k9County figure25.915% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure4.510% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure18.58% below
Child care centers per 10k9County figure2.24% below
Parks per 10k105.546% below
Playgrounds per 10k106.135% below
Grocery stores per 10k103.983% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k103.370% below
Libraries per 10k100.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails100.765% below
Transit stops per sq mi100.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1128.67% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1120% above
National Register listings12County figure40208% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 101, 47% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
101
47% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
313
74% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

Good air days17
31.2%
54% below the median place
Median air quality index17
56
30% above the median place
Hurricane risk16
22.8
68% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureLake St. LouisAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high15County figure88°F2% above
January average low15County figure22°F13% below
Average temperature15County figure56°F1% above
Annual precipitation15County figure42.3 in3% below
Natural hazard risk16County figure92.60% above
Hurricane risk16County figure22.868% below
Tornado risk16County figure96.418% above
Wildfire risk16County figure58.84% below
Heat wave risk16County figure95.66% above
Median air quality index17Metro figure5630% above
Good air days17Metro figure31.2%54% below
08

Lake St. Louis in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 15% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 15% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Lake St. Louis does better than 78% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 50%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,588/mo (2024)$2,060/mo$1,690 to $2,520/mo+4.5%
Median household income$125,693 (2024)$160,500$135,500 to $190,000+4.1%
Median home value$405,900 (2024)$582,000$422,000 to $801,000+6.2%
Population19,129 (2025)20,63019,790 to 21,510+1.5%

The median home would be worth 3.6 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.2 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Lake St. Louis

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Evans, GA$1,617$125,098Compare
Friendswood, TX$1,688$126,508Compare
Cottleville, MO$1,624$131,310Compare
Wescosville, PA$1,602$139,826Compare
Wescosville, PACottleville, MOFriendswood, TXEvans, GALake St. Louis, MOLake St. LouisEvansFriendswoodCottlevilleWescosvilleLake St. LouisEvansFriendswoodCottlevilleWescosville

Places built like Lake St. Louis

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Lake St. Louis performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Lake St. Louis, MO15.2%6.4%/yr14.4%
Waconia, MN14.4%2.2%/yr8.3%Compare
Papillion, NE13.6%6.7%/yr-0.6%Compare
Hugo, MN19.5%5.3%/yr8.9%Compare
Chaska, MN16.8%5.4%/yr9.7%Compare
Eureka, MO13.9%-0.5%/yr14.7%Compare
Inver Grove Heights, MN17.4%5.3%/yr3.0%Compare

Common questions

Is Lake St. Louis a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 92 out of 100, better than 92% of the places we rate and 22nd of 140 in Missouri. Compared with the 25 places most like it in size, age, education, housing and region (such as Waconia, MN, Papillion, NE and Hugo, MN), money left after rent here is higher: $108,400 against a typical $92,000. 32% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 94% of the 2,222 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 82 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Lake St. Louis expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 15.2% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $405,900.

What salary do you need to live in Lake St. Louis?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $63,520 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Lake St. Louis safe?

There were 101 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Lake St. Louis?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Evans, GA, Friendswood, TX, Cottleville, MO and Wescosville, PA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  14. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  15. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  16. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  17. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Lake St. Louis with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Lake St. Louis itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/lake-saint-louis-missouri

Citytistics. “Lake St. Louis, Missouri.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/lake-saint-louis-missouri/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.