City comparison
Yes. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $2,007 in Jersey City.
The income gap between Jersey City and St Louis is significant: $97,710 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,007 in Jersey City and $997 in St Louis.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Jersey City 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
Jersey City and St Louis are 868 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $997 a month in St Louis, down $1,010 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $56,160 in St Louis, down $41,550 (43%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 352 in St Louis, up 217 points (161%).
The move
St Louis and Jersey City are 868 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, up $1,010 a month (101%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $97,710 in Jersey City, up $41,550 (74%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 135 in Jersey City, down 217 points (62%).
Jersey City, NJ
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 Jersey City and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
50% cheaper
St Louis rent is 50% cheaper than Jersey City
Jersey City
$2,007/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $2,007 in Jersey City, so St Louis is 50% cheaper. That's roughly $1,010/month back in your pocket ($12,120/year). Over five years that's $60,600 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 Jersey City, 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
74% higher
Jersey City's median income is 74% higher than St Louis
Jersey City
Winner$97,710
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 74% higher in Jersey City (about $41,550 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, Jersey City 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
62% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 62% lower than St Louis
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
21% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 21% more comfortable than Jersey City
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Jersey City averages around 53°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 21% 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 Jersey City 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
Jersey City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 74% higher here ($97,710). Start with Jersey City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than St Louis (135 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 50% 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 Jersey City on this page's weather index by 21%. Jersey City may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts Jersey City by $1,010/month ($997 vs $2,007). I would not pick Jersey City on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Jersey City's $2,007, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,710 in Jersey City versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Between Jersey City and St Louis, St Louis is ahead on housing cost — $997/month rent against $2,007. Lean Jersey City instead when your $97,710 income offer in Jersey City outweighs saving $1,010/month in St Louis.
Common questions
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