The St. Louis metro is home to 2,809,414 people (up 0.1% over five years), with a median household income of $78,225. Typical rent of $1,427/month works out to 21.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of St. Louis's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.2% |
| Professional & management | 11.9% |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 8.3% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 21.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the St. Louis market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,427/month suggests a household income around $57,000/year. The metro's median household income is $78,225.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.2%), Professional & management (11.9%), Manufacturing (10.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).