City comparison
Yes. Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
The income gap between Stockton and St Louis is significant: $79,907 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,577 in Stockton and $997 in St Louis.
Stockton 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 Stockton 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
Stockton and St Louis are 1,679 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $997 a month in St Louis, down $580 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $56,160 in St Louis, down $23,747 (30%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 352 in St Louis, up 119 points (51%).
The move
St Louis and Stockton are 1,679 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $580 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $79,907 in Stockton, up $23,747 (42%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 233 in Stockton, down 119 points (34%).
Stockton, CA
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 Stockton and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
St Louis rent is 37% cheaper than Stockton
Stockton
$1,577/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,577 in Stockton, so St Louis is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $580/month back in your pocket ($6,960/year). Over five years that's $34,800 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 Stockton, 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 Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Stockton's median income is 42% higher than St Louis
Stockton
Winner$79,907
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Stockton (about $23,747 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, Stockton 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
34% lower crime
Stockton's crime index is 34% lower than St Louis
Stockton
Winner233 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Stockton. 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, Stockton 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
25% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Stockton scores 25% 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 42% higher ($79,907), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than St Louis (233 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
Rent is the clearest fork: St Louis at $997/month versus $1,577 in Stockton ($580 apart). Stockton median income is $79,907 against $56,160 in St Louis, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Stockton's $1,577, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 34/100 in Stockton and 22/100 in St Louis.
If housing cost drives your move, St Louis is the stronger match ($997/month rent against $1,577). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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