City comparison
No. St Louis's crime index is 352 versus 374 in Detroit, and its violent crime index is 376 versus 496, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,132 in Detroit.
Detroit and St Louis are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,132 in Detroit and $997 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $60,539 versus $56,160. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
St Louis is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Detroit makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone St Louis is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Detroit and St Louis are 454 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,132 a month in Detroit to $997 a month in St Louis, down $135 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $60,539 in Detroit to $56,160 in St Louis, down $4,379 (7%).
The crime index goes from 374 in Detroit to 352 in St Louis, down 22 points (6%).
The move
St Louis and Detroit are 454 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,132 a month in Detroit, up $135 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $60,539 in Detroit, up $4,379 (8%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 374 in Detroit, up 22 points (6%).
Detroit, MI
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 Detroit and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
St Louis rent is 12% cheaper than Detroit
Detroit
$1,132/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,132 in Detroit, so St Louis is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,620, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Detroit.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Detroit's median income is 8% higher than St Louis
Detroit
Winner$60,539
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $60,539 in Detroit versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Detroit (about $4,379 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
6% lower crime
St Louis's crime index is 6% lower than Detroit
Detroit
374 (100 = avg)
St Louis
Winner352 (100 = avg)
St Louis's crime index is 352 versus 374 in Detroit (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in St Louis. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Louis, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Detroit. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 11% more comfortable than Detroit
Detroit
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Detroit averages about 55°F (62°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Detroit averages around 55°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 11% 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 Detroit 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
Detroit is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($60,539). Start with Detroit if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 12% 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 Detroit on this page's weather index by 11%. Detroit may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
St Louis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Detroit (352 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: St Louis at $997/month versus $1,132 in Detroit ($135 apart). Detroit median income is $60,539 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 Detroit's $1,132, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $60,539 in Detroit versus $56,160 in St Louis.
If housing cost drives your move, St Louis is the stronger match ($997/month rent against $1,132). If an employer or family tie already points to Detroit, treat $1,132/month rent and $60,539 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
With rent only $135 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($60,539 vs $56,160) and safety (20/100 vs 22/100) break the tie.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Detroit and St Louis, plus other cities in MI and MO.
