County profile · Missouri
St. Louis city, MO market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in St. Louis city, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 278,144
- −7.4% since 2020
- Households
- 144,891
- Median household income
- $56,160
- +27.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $197,500
- Jobs located here
- 229,379
- Highest market score
- 70
- Optometrists and eye care, #194 of 1,302 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in St. Louis city by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of St. Louis city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 278,144 people live in St. Louis city, in 144,891 households. Population estimates show St. Louis city declined 7.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in St. Louis city is $56,160 a year, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 27.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in St. Louis city spend the most on medical and dental services (an index of 99, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (55).
The highest Groundwork market scores in St. Louis city are for optometrists and eye clinics (70), dentists and orthodontists (69) and physical therapy clinics (67). St. Louis city ranks #194 of 1,302 scored counties for optometrists and eye clinics.
St. Louis city is part of the St. Louis metro area. For its number of households, St. Louis city has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for restaurants and cafes (36% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for mortgage brokers and lenders (81% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in St. Louis city
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares St. Louis city with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometrists and eye care | 70 | #194 of 1,302 | 31 | 2.1 | $6M | 191 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 69 | #277 of 1,886 | 75 | 5.2 | $2.5M | 251 | 60 |
| Physical therapy | 67 | #271 of 1,422 | 39 | 2.7 | $4.7M | 198 | 34 |
| Chiropractors | 66 | #295 of 1,490 | 43 | 3.0 | $4.3M | 180 | 25 |
| Veterinarians | 63 | #418 of 1,485 | 23 | 1.6 | $4.7M | 172 | 17 |
| Pet stores | 60 | #306 of 974 | 14 | 1.0 | $7.7M | 170 | 8 |
| Electricians | 60 | #344 of 1,160 | 18 | 1.2 | $19.5M | 163 | 32 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #641 of 2,200 | 77 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 159 | 47 |
| Pest control | 59 | #229 of 699 | 6 | 0.4 | $26.9M | 263 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 59 | #514 of 1,707 | 50 | 3.5 | $7M | 148 | 58 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 59 | #528 of 1,656 | 50 | 3.5 | $3.7M | 208 | 169 |
| Nail salons | 58 | #439 of 1,328 | 42 | 2.9 | $3M | 182 | 19 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 58 | #496 of 1,493 | 33 | 2.3 | $4.9M | 167 | 57 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 58 | #522 of 1,461 | 27 | 1.9 | $4M | 157 | 22 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #604 of 1,769 | 79 | 5.5 | $1.6M | 185 | 22 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 56 | #309 of 887 | 12 | 0.8 | Index only | 397 | 15 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 56 | #622 of 1,771 | 54 | 3.7 | $3M | 178 | 128 |
| Home repair trades | 56 | #723 of 2,057 | 109 | 7.5 | $3.2M | 133 | 114 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 55 | #132 of 325 | 5 | 0.3 | $37M | 151 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 54 | #532 of 1,334 | 40 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 134 | 30 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 54 | #991 of 2,394 | 640 | 44.2 | $289K | 190 | 299 |
| Convenience stores | 52 | #1,043 of 2,261 | 85 | 5.9 | $9.5M | 121 | 36 |
| House cleaning | 51 | #379 of 847 | 15 | 1.0 | $10.7M | 168 | 65 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #741 of 1,451 | 38 | 2.6 | $2.7M | 106 | 10 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 48 | #265 of 479 | 7 | 0.5 | $14.5M | 106 | 5 |
| Dry cleaners | 43 | #320 of 507 | 14 | 1.0 | $18.5M | 118 | 13 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 43 | #807 of 1,327 | 33 | 2.3 | $3.1M | 100 | 23 |
| Auto repair and car care | 43 | #1,495 of 2,401 | 364 | 25.1 | $279K | 104 | 138 |
| Hair salons | 43 | #1,512 of 2,339 | 286 | 19.7 | $447K | 104 | 57 |
| Roofing and gutters | 42 | #762 of 1,177 | 41 | 2.8 | $8.6M | 101 | 24 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 41 | #1,354 of 2,087 | 180 | 12.4 | $1.4M | 114 | 78 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #1,489 of 2,272 | 106 | 7.3 | $1.5M | 118 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 39 | #1,537 of 2,210 | 247 | 17.0 | $1.1M | 119 | 102 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 39 | #1,765 of 2,385 | 531 | 36.6 | $241K | 113 | 100 |
| Funeral homes | 38 | #1,027 of 1,472 | 27 | 1.9 | $522K | 77 | 17 |
| Gas stations | 37 | #1,707 of 2,358 | 155 | 10.7 | $1.7M | 71 | 89 |
| Auto repair shops | 36 | #1,806 of 2,378 | 247 | 17.0 | $411K | 92 | 99 |
| Laundromats | 35 | #556 of 785 | 23 | 1.6 | $11.3M | 90 | 11 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 34 | #1,807 of 2,402 | 280 | 19.3 | $2.9M | 85 | 117 |
| Gyms | 32 | #1,440 of 1,792 | 107 | 7.4 | $1M | 78 | 47 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 32 | #1,722 of 2,088 | 186 | 12.8 | $581K | 88 | 77 |
| Tire shops | 31 | #1,220 of 1,530 | 54 | 3.7 | $1.9M | 75 | 22 |
| Pizza | 31 | #1,752 of 2,090 | 114 | 7.9 | $4.4M | 86 | 322 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 31 | #1,990 of 2,176 | 257 | 17.7 | Index only | 133 | 99 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 28 | #1,888 of 2,222 | 193 | 13.3 | $2.6M | 85 | 322 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 27 | #1,686 of 1,889 | 136 | 9.4 | $3.7M | 89 | 93 |
| Real estate | 27 | #2,140 of 2,229 | 319 | 22.0 | Index only | 135 | 216 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 26 | #727 of 777 | 39 | 2.7 | $2.8M | 68 | 47 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 24 | #1,907 of 2,063 | 196 | 13.5 | $2.5M | 69 | 81 |
| Grocery stores | 23 | #1,815 of 2,070 | 127 | 8.8 | $6.4M | 69 | 81 |
| Barbershops | 20 | #1,222 of 1,356 | 97 | 6.7 | $1.3M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 19 | #1,497 of 1,611 | 88 | 6.1 | $587K | 59 | 106 |
| Property management | 18 | #883 of 910 | 48 | 3.3 | Index only | 70 | 84 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 14 | #2,381 of 2,405 | 1,148 | 79.2 | $435K | 66 | 335 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 13 | #2,379 of 2,405 | 2,158 | 148.9 | $231K | 62 | 744 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.1 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
Household spending in St. Louis city
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $101.5M | $701 | 73 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $260.7M | $1,800 | 69 |
| Food away from home | $499.1M | $3,445 | 85 |
| Groceries | $809M | $5,584 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $127.8M | $882 | 88 |
| Child care and other personal services | $51.7M | $357 | 61 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $108.1M | $746 | 76 |
| Medical and dental services | $185.1M | $1,278 | 99 |
| Pets | $107.7M | $743 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $259.6M | $1,792 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $157.1M | $1,084 | 55 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $351.2M | $2,424 | 80 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $161.1M | $1,112 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.9B | $12,844 | 77 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in St. Louis city
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 278,144−7.4% since 2020
- Households
- 144,891
- Median age
- 38.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 45%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.3
- Land area
- 62 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 4,675
- Median household income
- $56,160+27.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $81,764
- Median home value
- $197,500
- Jobs located here
- 229,379
- Daytime population
- 378,059Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in St. Louis city?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of St. Louis city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Missouri 8
- St. Louis County, MO995,569 people
- Jefferson County, MO229,458 people
- St. Charles County, MO414,535 people
- Franklin County, MO105,950 people
- Lincoln County, MO63,057 people
- Warren County, MO37,177 people
- Ste. Genevieve County, MO18,571 people
- Washington County, MO23,470 people
Questions
How fast is St. Louis city, MO growing?
Population estimates put St. Louis city at 278,144 people in 2025, down 7.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 144,891 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 27.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in St. Louis city, MO spend?
Households in St. Louis city spend about $1.9B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $809M on groceries and $499.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in St. Louis city runs highest on medical and dental services (an index of 99, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (55).
Which business types have the highest market scores in St. Louis city, MO?
Of the business types scored in St. Louis city, optometrists and eye clinics (70), dentists and orthodontists (69) and physical therapy clinics (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For optometrists and eye clinics, that ranks #194 of 1,302 scored counties.
How does St. Louis city, MO compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in St. Louis city is $56,160, 30% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 7.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $197,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for restaurants and cafes (36% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for mortgage brokers and lenders (81% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in St. Louis city, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in St. Louis city. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Missouri · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in St. Louis city?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of St. Louis city. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.