City comparison
Yes. Greensboro's crime index is 214 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 235 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,172 in Greensboro.
Safety is where Greensboro and St Louis split most clearly. Greensboro scores 138 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,172 in Greensboro and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Greensboro 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 crime gap is citywide. Greensboro has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Greensboro and St Louis are 598 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $997 a month in St Louis, down $175 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $56,160 in St Louis, down $5,355 (9%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 352 in St Louis, up 138 points (64%).
The move
St Louis and Greensboro are 598 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, up $175 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $61,515 in Greensboro, up $5,355 (10%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 214 in Greensboro, down 138 points (39%).
Greensboro, NC
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 Greensboro and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
St Louis rent is 15% cheaper than Greensboro
Greensboro
$1,172/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,172 in Greensboro, so St Louis is 15% 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 $2,100, 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 Greensboro.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Greensboro's median income is 10% higher than St Louis
Greensboro
Winner$61,515
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $61,515 in Greensboro versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Greensboro (about $5,355 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
39% lower crime
Greensboro's crime index is 39% lower than St Louis
Greensboro
Winner214 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Greensboro's crime index is 214 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Greensboro. 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, Greensboro 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
7% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 7% more comfortable than Greensboro
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Greensboro averages around 56°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 7% 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 Greensboro 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
Greensboro is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($61,515). Start with Greensboro if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Greensboro is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than St Louis (214 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 15% 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 Greensboro on this page's weather index by 7%. Greensboro may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Greensboro: Greensboro scores 37/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,172 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 15 safety points for housing savings.
With only $175 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $61,515 in Greensboro versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Greensboro clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Greensboro and St Louis, plus other cities in NC and MO.
