What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to St. Louis, MO, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
St. Louis is a city in St. Louis city, Missouri, with an estimated population of 279,695. The population has contracted 1.9% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in St. Louis is $186,427 as of 2026-04, up 0.2% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +3.2% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in St. Louis average $1,379 per month, up 4.0% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 57 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (+0.2% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Held the highs: currently -0.2% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
- Cheap entry point: $186,427 median home is well below the US median of $355k — room to grow without overpaying.
Things to know first
- Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.9% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
- Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.
More about St. Louis
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.