City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Raleigh and St Louis split most clearly. Raleigh scores 210 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $997 in St Louis.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh and St Louis are 666 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $997 a month in St Louis, down $575 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $56,160 in St Louis, down $29,235 (34%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 352 in St Louis, up 210 points (148%).
The move
St Louis and Raleigh are 666 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $575 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $29,235 (52%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 142 in Raleigh, down 210 points (60%).
Raleigh, 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 Raleigh and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
St Louis rent is 37% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so St Louis is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $575/month back in your pocket ($6,900/year). Over five years that's $34,500 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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Raleigh's median income is 52% higher than St Louis
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Raleigh (about $29,235 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, Raleigh 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
60% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 60% lower than St Louis
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
8% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 8% more comfortable than St Louis
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh scores 8% 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 52% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than St Louis (142 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 37% 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,572 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
Raleigh still pays more locally ($85,395 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Raleigh rates.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh and St Louis, plus other cities in NC and MO.
