City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Safety is where St Louis and Richmond split most clearly. Richmond scores 183 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Louis costs less and Richmond 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
St Louis and Richmond are 696 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $375 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $64,587 in Richmond, up $8,427 (15%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 169 in Richmond, down 183 points (52%).
The move
Richmond and St Louis are 696 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $997 a month in St Louis, down $375 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $56,160 in St Louis, down $8,427 (13%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 352 in St Louis, up 183 points (108%).
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Louis and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
St Louis rent is 27% cheaper than Richmond
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,372 in Richmond, so St Louis is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $375/month back in your pocket ($4,500/year). Over five years that's $22,500 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 Richmond, 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
15% higher
Richmond's median income is 15% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Richmond
Winner$64,587
Median household income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Richmond (about $8,427 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, Richmond 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
52% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 52% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
3% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 3% more comfortable than Richmond
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Louis scores 3% 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 Richmond if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 27% 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 Richmond on this page's weather index by 3%. Richmond may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Richmond is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($64,587). Start with Richmond if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than St Louis (169 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Richmond: Richmond scores 44/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,372 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
Richmond still pays more locally ($64,587 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Richmond rates.
Median income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Richmond 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.
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Nearby research
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