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Independent city in Missouri

City of St. Louis , Missouri

The City of St. Louis is an independent city in Missouri with 288,512 residents, No. 5 of 115 by population. In the City of St. Louis, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $197,500. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,349 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $25.94 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $197,500

    −14% vs. Missouri −41% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • St. Louis
    • Missouri
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,349 a month

    +8% vs. Missouri −23% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • St. Louis
    • Missouri
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • St. Louis
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.03% of value per year

    +21% vs. Missouri +10% vs. U.S.

    $2,033 a year for the typical owner

    • St. Louis
    • Missouri
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$176,514
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,287 a month
3.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in the City of St. Louis today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $1,653 a month: 35% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $70,837 a year; the typical income here is $56,160. The typical home value is 14% less than in Missouri overall. 45% of households own their home, fewer than in Missouri (68%).

There are 1 agency with HUD-approved housing counselors who speak Spanish near here.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (Retrieved November 6, 2026).

Only here

What sets the City of St. Louis apart

  1. Of the 115 places in Missouri, the City of St. Louis has the lowest homeownership rate: 45%.

  2. The City of St. Louis has the lowest typical home value in its area: $197,500, less than any of its 6 neighboring places; next is Franklin County ($227,600).

  3. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in the City of St. Louis rose 38% on FHFA's index, slower than in Missouri (51%).

  4. At 1.03%, the City of St. Louis ranks 7th among the 115 places in Missouri for the highest effective property tax rate.

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in the City of St. Louis barely changed; in Missouri, it rose 3.4%.

  6. The City of St. Louis has the 11th highest typical rent of the 115 places in Missouri ($997).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in the City of St. Louis

What homes there are in the City of St. Louis, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in the City of St. Louis are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 43%, against 71% in Missouri.

Year built

The typical home in the City of St. Louis was built before 1940, the oldest group the Census tells apart; 76% of homes date from before 1960.

In the City of St. Louis, 33% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 31% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62% in Missouri.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in the City of St. Louis sit under the FHA limit for this city ($541,287): about 93%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 73% of rented homes in the City of St. Louis cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this city ($1,349).

With a mortgage

$1,487 a month

Missouri: $1,524 a month

Without a mortgage

$574 a month

Missouri: $546 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Missouri: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in the City of St. Louis is $1,487 a month, near the figure in Missouri ($1,524).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in the City of St. Louis rose 42%; in Missouri, it rose 47%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in the City of St. Louis rose 20%, less than in Missouri (25%).

To compare: typical income in the City of St. Louis rose 28%; the home, +42%; the rent, +20%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureCity of St. LouisMissouriUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.7%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 2.1%0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 1.922.402.53
Drive alone 64%75%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%
Public transit 6%1%3%
Walk or bike 5%2%3%
Work from home 17%13%15%
Other means 2%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in the City of St. Louis: 7.7% is empty and offered for rent, against 5.0% in Missouri.

Much as in Missouri, 1.9% of households in the City of St. Louis have more than one person per room.

On average, a household in the City of St. Louis has 1.92 people, fewer than in Missouri (2.40).

In the City of St. Louis, 6% of workers get to work by public transit; in Missouri, 1%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in the City of St. Louis?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home of $197,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income here, which is $56,160 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $70,837 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in the City of St. Louis. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,913 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,653

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$193,922
Total interest
$279,009
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,335 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,310 a month

  • Tight

    $1,310 to $1,685 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $1,685 a month

Compared with the typical household income in the City of St. Louis ($56,160 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,653
Principal & interest$1,314
Property tax$170
Home insurance$82
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$87

You need at least $6,913 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in the City of St. Louis

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how the City of St. Louis compares with Missouri and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in the City of St. Louis rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Missouri United States
In 2025 +1.5% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +38% +51% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +88% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

City of St. Louis compared with Missouri and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • St. Louis $197,500
  • Missouri $230,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • St. Louis $997
  • Missouri $1,033
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • St. Louis $56,160
  • Missouri $70,702
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
St. Louis compared with Missouri and the United States
MeasureHereMissouriU.S.
Residents288,5126,191,814334,922,499
Typical home value$197,500$230,300$332,700
Typical household income$56,160$70,702$80,734
Typical rent$997$1,033$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,349$1,250$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$25.94$24.04$33.65
Typical property tax$2,033$1,948$3,119
Effective tax rate1.03%0.85%0.94%
Households that own their home45%68%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent46%46%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Missouri shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in the City of St. Louis

For a typical $197,500 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $1,653 $6,913 $193,923 7.18% FHA MIP · $87 $12,838 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,617 $9,875 $187,625 7.18% PMI · $94 $15,800 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,322 $39,500 $158,000 7.18% None $45,425 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,505 $29,625 $167,875 8.18% None $35,550 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

Everything about buying in the City of St. Louis: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in the City of St. Louis use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in the City of St. Louis

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In the City of St. Louis, the typical owner pays $2,033 a year: about 1.03% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Missouri and more than the national average.

  • St. Louis 1.03%
  • Missouri 0.85%
  • United States 0.94%

What Missouri publishes Deadline to appeal the assessment to the county board of equalization (Missouri Revisor of Statutes (Revised Statutes of Missouri))

Exemptions and deadlines in Missouri

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in the City of St. Louis. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in the City of St. Louis

The natural hazards FEMA measures in the City of St. Louis, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

In the City of St. Louis, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as relatively high.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in the City of St. Louis from all natural hazards is $359 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

The hazard that would do the most damage to homes and buildings here is inland flooding: about $90.7 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively high $90.7 million a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively high $33.2 million a year
  3. TornadoVery high $11.9 million a year
  4. Winter weatherRelatively moderate $51,542 a year
  5. HurricaneVery low $13,155 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The City of St. Louis is in climate zone 4A of the home energy code (IECC): mixed and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$37.10$22.54 and $50.39
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$37.02$22.61 and $58.29
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$30.29$22.05 and $48.17
Roofers$28.25$20.29 and $47.41
Carpenters$34.13$21.64 and $47.86
Painters, construction and maintenance$28.75$19.44 and $40.09
Maintenance and repair workers, general$25.93$17.46 and $38.14

In the St. Louis, MO-IL area, half of electricians earn more than $37.10 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $37.02.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in the City of St. Louis

The typical rent in the City of St. Louis is $997 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

46% of renter households in the City of St. Louis spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 25% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,064 $20.46 $42,560
1 bedroom $1,104 $21.23 $44,160
2 bedrooms $1,349 $25.94 $53,960
3 bedrooms $1,731 $33.29 $69,240
4 bedrooms $1,997 $38.40 $79,880

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in the City of St. Louis

Programs and counseling in the City of St. Louis

There are 6 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in the City of St. Louis. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

The simple kitchen of an apartment, with an electric stove, a refrigerator and wood cabinets.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Missouri down payment programs

  1. First Place Loan Program

    Missouri state commission mortgage for first-time buyers and veterans, with the option of cash assistance for the down payment and closing costs

    First-time buyers only. Run by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

  2. Next Step Program

    Missouri state commission mortgage for buyers who earn more than First Place allows, with a second loan of 4% of the mortgage for the down payment and closing costs that is forgiven after ten years

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Missouri programs

Help in Spanish in the City of St. Louis

1 of the 6 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this city.

  • St. Louis Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (314) 286-4355

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in the City of St. Louis. The full list is on the Missouri counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - ST. Louis, MO

    1300 Hampton Avenue suite 101, Saint Louis · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (314) 645-8333

  • Better Family Life, Inc.

    5415 Page Blvd, Saint Louis

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (314) 367-3440

  • Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (H.O.P.E)

    1120 S 6th St, Saint Louis

    • Reverse mortgage counseling
    (844) 432-6467
See every agency in Missouri

Places

Cities in the City of St. Louis

This site has no city pages of the City of St. Louis. The neighboring counties are below.

Nearby places

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with the City of St. Louis.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in the City of St. Louis in 2026?

The City of St. Louis has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in the City of St. Louis?

The City of St. Louis has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in the City of St. Louis?

The typical home value in the City of St. Louis is $197,500 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Missouri it's $230,300.

How much does it cost to rent in the City of St. Louis?

The City of St. Louis has a typical rent of $997 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,349 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in the City of St. Louis?

About $25.94 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $53,960 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,349 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).