City comparison
Yes. Indianapolis's crime index is 216 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 246 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,156 in Indianapolis.
Safety is where Indianapolis and St Louis split most clearly. Indianapolis scores 136 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,156 in Indianapolis and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Indianapolis 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. Indianapolis has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Indianapolis and St Louis are 230 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $997 a month in St Louis, down $159 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $56,160 in St Louis, down $10,059 (15%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 352 in St Louis, up 136 points (63%).
The move
St Louis and Indianapolis are 230 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, up $159 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $66,219 in Indianapolis, up $10,059 (18%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 216 in Indianapolis, down 136 points (39%).
Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
St Louis rent is 14% cheaper than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
$1,156/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,156 in Indianapolis, so St Louis is 14% 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 $1,908, 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 Indianapolis.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Indianapolis's median income is 18% higher than St Louis
Indianapolis
Winner$66,219
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Indianapolis (about $10,059 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, Indianapolis 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
39% lower crime
Indianapolis's crime index is 39% lower than St Louis
Indianapolis
Winner216 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Indianapolis's crime index is 216 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Indianapolis. 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, Indianapolis 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
16% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 16% more comfortable than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
54°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 69/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Indianapolis averages about 54°F (62°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 54°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 16% 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 Indianapolis 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
Indianapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($66,219). Start with Indianapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Indianapolis 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 (216 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 14% 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 Indianapolis on this page's weather index by 16%. Indianapolis may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Indianapolis scores 37/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis. Rent is $1,156/month in Indianapolis and $997/month in St Louis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $159 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Between Indianapolis and St Louis, Indianapolis is ahead on safety — 37/100 safety versus 22/100. Lean St Louis instead 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 Indianapolis and St Louis, plus other cities in IN and MO.
