City comparison
Yes. Denver's crime index is 271 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 272 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and St Louis is significant: $94,718 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $997 in St Louis.
Denver 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 Denver 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
Denver and St Louis are 795 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $997 a month in St Louis, down $834 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $56,160 in St Louis, down $38,558 (41%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 352 in St Louis, up 81 points (30%).
The move
St Louis and Denver are 795 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $834 a month (84%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $94,718 in Denver, up $38,558 (69%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 271 in Denver, down 81 points (23%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
46% cheaper
St Louis rent is 46% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,831 in Denver, so St Louis is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $834/month back in your pocket ($10,008/year). Over five years that's $50,040 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 Denver, 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 Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
69% higher
Denver's median income is 69% higher than St Louis
Denver
Winner$94,718
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Denver (about $38,558 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, Denver 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
23% lower crime
Denver's crime index is 23% lower than St Louis
Denver
Winner271 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Denver's crime index is 271 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Denver. 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, Denver 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
15% more comfortable
Denver weather is 15% more comfortable than St Louis
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 15% 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 69% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Denver is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than St Louis (271 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 46% 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
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts Denver by $834/month ($997 vs $1,831). I would not pick Denver on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Denver and 22/100 in St Louis.
St Louis is the default on housing cost at $997/month versus $1,831 in Denver; Denver stays in play when $94,718 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $834 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and St Louis, plus other cities in CO and MO.
