City comparison
Yes. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The income gap between Anaheim and St Louis is significant: $95,227 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,175 in Anaheim and $997 in St Louis.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and St Louis are 1,573 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $997 a month in St Louis, down $1,178 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $56,160 in St Louis, down $39,067 (41%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 352 in St Louis, up 209 points (146%).
The move
St Louis and Anaheim are 1,573 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $1,178 a month (118%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $39,067 (70%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 143 in Anaheim, down 209 points (59%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
54% cheaper
St Louis rent is 54% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so St Louis is 54% cheaper. That's roughly $1,178/month back in your pocket ($14,136/year). Over five years that's $70,680 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
70% higher
Anaheim's median income is 70% higher than St Louis
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 70% higher in Anaheim (about $39,067 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 59% lower than St Louis
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Anaheim. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Anaheim is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim scores 25% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose St Louis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 70% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than St Louis (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 54% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $997/month in St Louis versus $2,175 in Anaheim. Median income reads $56,160 in St Louis and $95,227 in Anaheim, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $56,160 in St Louis.
St Louis clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Anaheim deserves a serious look only when your $95,227 income offer in Anaheim outweighs saving $1,178/month in St Louis.
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