HomeMissouriSt. Charles County
St. Charles County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
St. Charles County, Missouri had an estimated 423,726 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 405,265, across 560 square miles. County output reached $26.42 bn in 2024, 8,946 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 421 7(a) approvals worth $216.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Charles County
How many people live in St. Charles County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024414,535
- Households161,311
- Average household size2.57
- Median household income$104,692
- Median age39.8
- Median gross rent$1,370 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$320,800
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher42.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree15.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over287,433
- Population under 1893,380
- Share under 1822.5 percent
- Population 65 and over70,408
- Share 65 and over17.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64250,747
- Civilian labor force230,817
- Unemployment rate2.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.9 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties3rd of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included178th of 3,222
St. Charles County is the 3rd largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.5 percent against 17.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Charles County
Is St. Charles County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024423,726
- Census 2020 base population405,265
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.56 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20245,768
- Births, 20243,889
- Deaths, 20243,190
- Natural change, 2024699
- Net domestic migration, 20243,002
- Net international migration, 20242,068
- Total net migration, 20245,070
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202410,405
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents604th of 3,144
The county has grown 4.56 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Charles County
Where are people moving to St. Charles County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving10,941
- People arriving, from those returns19,336
- Tax returns filed by households leaving10,131
- Net household movement810
- Adjusted gross income arriving$847.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$52.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$77,444
- Average income of a leaving household$78,505
- Largest single originSt. Louis County (4,186 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Louis County (2,570 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 4,186 | 7,416 | $300.8 m |
| St. Louis city | 611 | 959 | $44.4 m |
| Lincoln County | 583 | 1,041 | $34.7 m |
| Warren County | 333 | 594 | $20.6 m |
| Jefferson County | 270 | 486 | $15.1 m |
| Madison County | 240 | 366 | $18.1 m |
| St. Clair County | 140 | 232 | $8.8 m |
| Boone County | 133 | 199 | $8.2 m |
Households arriving report $1,061 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is St. Louis County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
St. Charles County
What is the St. Charles County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$26.42 bn
- County GDP, 2023$24.97 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years39.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes4th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes213th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$63,732
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 39.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
St. Charles County
Employment by industry in St. Charles County
- Covered employment, annual average162,611
- Establishments reporting10,945
- Average annual pay$60,105
- Average weekly wage$1,156
- Retail trade, employment20,539
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,151
- Health care and social assistance, employment20,322
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,906
- Accommodation and food services, employment19,870
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,112
- Manufacturing, employment16,676
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$85,531
- Transportation and warehousing, employment10,035
- Construction, employment9,696
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 20,539 | 1,126 | $38,151 |
| Health care and social assistance | 20,322 | 2,436 | $55,906 |
| Accommodation and food services | 19,870 | 857 | $25,112 |
| Manufacturing | 16,676 | 288 | $85,531 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10,035 | 263 | $53,572 |
| Construction | 9,696 | 1,068 | $77,602 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 8,405 | 634 | $44,984 |
| Finance and insurance | 6,887 | 650 | $84,270 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 20,539 jobs, 12.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Charles County
How many businesses are in St. Charles County?
- Establishments, all industries8,946
- Employment at those establishments143,624
- Annual payroll$8.12 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Charles County
Building permits in St. Charles County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,040
- Declared construction value permitted$601.9 m
- Single family units authorized1,420
- Multifamily units authorized620
- Multifamily share of units30.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$295,064
- Units authorized per 1,000 households12.6
Single-family homes are 69.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Charles County
SBA loans in St. Charles County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded421
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$216.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$515,007
- Median 7(a) approval$219,000
- 10th percentile approval$32,500
- 90th percentile approval$1,224,900
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)5,259
- Jobs per approval12.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active89
- Distinct industries receiving approvals155
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms55
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter317
- Franchise loans108
- Franchise share of approvals25.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (22)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (55)
- 504 approvals recorded211
- 504 gross approval dollars$143.4 m
- Average 504 approval$679,853
- Median 504 approval$424,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval11.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.3
- Most active CDCSt. Charles County Economic Development Council (156)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$360.3 m
The average approval of $515,007 sits well above the median of $219,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Charles County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Charles County
Do SBA loans in St. Charles County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded89
- Paid in full78
- Charged off11
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans12.4 percent
- Status: Charged off11
- Status: Cancelled50
- Status: Paid in full78
- Status: Exempt from disclosure261
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed21
Of the 89 loans that have reached a final outcome, 12.4 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Charles County
SBA lending by place in St. Charles County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- St. Charles, approvals112
- O'Fallon, approvals101
- St. Peters, approvals94
- Wentzville, approvals52
- Lake St. Louis, approvals37
- Weldon Spring, approvals6
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| St. Charles | 112 | $69,588,700 |
| O'Fallon | 101 | $38,704,500 |
| St. Peters | 94 | $51,916,100 |
| Wentzville | 52 | $27,214,100 |
| Lake St. Louis | 37 | $18,337,900 |
| Weldon Spring | 6 | $3,432,400 |
| Defiance | 5 | $1,310,900 |
| Dardenne Prairie | 4 | $1,069,000 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 10 | $5,244,200 |
St. Charles accounts for 112 approvals against 101 in O'Fallon. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Charles County
How large is St. Charles County?
- Land area560 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties65th of 115
- Width, east to west46.1 mi
- Height, north to south29.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land740
- Establishments per square mile15.97
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Charles County
Flood risk in St. Charles County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community St. Charles County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290315
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 6
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book17
- Of those, participating in the NFIP16
- NFIP participation rate94.1 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in St. Charles County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated St. Charles County (community 290315), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 6, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places St. Charles County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 94.1 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a St. Charles County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a St. Charles County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024414,535
- Households161,311
- Average household size2.57
- Median household income$104,692
- Median age39.8
Common questions
St. Charles County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Charles County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 423,726 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 414,535, in 161,311 households, ranking 3rd of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Charles County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.56 percent since the 2020 census base of 405,265, to 423,726 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,889 births against 3,190 deaths, with net migration of 5,070. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Charles County?
$104,692. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $320,800, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,370 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Charles County?
8,946 establishments, employing 143,624 people with an annual payroll of $8.12 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in St. Charles County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 20,539 jobs, 12.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 162,611 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,105, or $1,156 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Charles County?
421 7(a) approvals totaling $216.8 m since FY2020, across 89 lenders, with a median approval of $219,000, plus 211 504 approvals worth $143.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Charles County get paid back?
Of the 89 loans that have reached a final outcome, 78 were paid in full and 11 charged off, a charge-off rate of 12.4 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Charles County?
2,040 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $601.9 m. Multifamily was 30.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Charles County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to St. Charles County come from?
The largest single origin is St. Louis County, with 4,186 households. Arriving households report an average income of $77,444 against $78,505 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Charles County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for St. Charles County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
St. Charles County
Cities and places in St. Charles.
18 Census places lie wholly or partly in St. Charles County. All 18 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon | city | 93,801 | 101 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Charles | city | 71,508 | 112 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Peters | city | 59,092 | 94 | Wholly in this county |
| Wentzville | city | 47,061 | 52 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake St. Louis | city | 18,066 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Dardenne Prairie | city | 13,503 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Cottleville | city | 5,937 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Weldon Spring | city | 5,310 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Paul | city | 3,456 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Foristell | city | 1,096 | 3 | 50.8 percent here, 49.2 percent Warren County |
| Josephville | village | 664 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Flint Hill | city | 583 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| West Alton | city | 467 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Melle | city | 452 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Portage Des Sioux | city | 340 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Augusta | town | 285 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Weldon Spring Heights | town | 121 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Defiance | CDP | 63 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
A further 6 of the county's 421 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in St. Charles County, the largest being Cottlevile (1), Florissant (1), O'fallon (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.