City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
The income gap between Boston and St Louis is significant: $97,344 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,147 in Boston and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Boston and St Louis are 1,036 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $997 a month in St Louis, down $1,150 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $56,160 in St Louis, down $41,184 (42%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 352 in St Louis, up 205 points (139%).
The move
St Louis and Boston are 1,036 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $1,150 a month (115%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $97,344 in Boston, up $41,184 (73%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 147 in Boston, down 205 points (58%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
54% cheaper
St Louis rent is 54% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $2,147 in Boston, so St Louis is 54% cheaper. That's roughly $1,150/month back in your pocket ($13,800/year). Over five years that's $69,000 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 Boston, 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 St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
73% higher
Boston's median income is 73% higher than St Louis
Boston
Winner$97,344
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 73% higher in Boston (about $41,184 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, Boston 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
58% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 58% lower than St Louis
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
38% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 38% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis scores 38% 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 Boston 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 and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 73% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than St Louis (147 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
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.
Pick St Louis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 38%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: St Louis at $997/month versus $2,147 in Boston ($1,150 apart). Boston median income is $97,344 against $56,160 in St Louis, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Pick St Louis when shaving $1,150 off rent at $997/month is the priority. Otherwise, Boston's case rests on $2,147/month rent with $97,344 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and St Louis, plus other cities in MA and MO.
