City comparison
Yes. Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 146 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,145 in Tucson.
Safety is where Tucson and St Louis split most clearly. Tucson scores 196 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Tucson and $997 in St Louis.
Tucson 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 Tucson is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Tucson has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tucson and St Louis are 1,245 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $997 a month in St Louis, down $148 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $56,160 in St Louis, down $913 (2%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 352 in St Louis, up 196 points (126%).
The move
St Louis and Tucson are 1,245 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,145 a month in Tucson, up $148 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $57,073 in Tucson, up $913 (2%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 156 in Tucson, down 196 points (56%).
Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
St Louis rent is 13% cheaper than Tucson
Tucson
$1,145/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,145 in Tucson, so St Louis is 13% 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 $1,776, 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 Tucson.
Planning to buy in Tucson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Tucson's median income is 2% higher than St Louis
Tucson
Winner$57,073
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $57,073 in Tucson versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Tucson (about $913 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Tucson's crime index is 56% lower than St Louis
Tucson
Winner156 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% lower in Tucson. 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, Tucson 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
Tucson weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
Tucson
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Tucson averages about 77°F (84°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Tucson sits near 77°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. Tucson 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 2% higher ($57,073), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tucson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than St Louis (156 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 13% 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 Tucson: Tucson scores 46/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,145 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 24 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Tucson vs 22/100 in St Louis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,145 in Tucson.
Tucson 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 Tucson and St Louis, plus other cities in AZ and MO.
