St. Louis city, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
St. Louis city, Missouri had an estimated 279,695 residents on July 1, 2024, down 7.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 301,371, across 62 square miles. County output reached $40.40 bn in 2024, 8,468 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 292 7(a) approvals worth $141.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Louis city
How many people live in St. Louis city
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024288,512
- Households144,891
- Average household size1.99
- Median household income$56,160
- Median age36.8
- Median gross rent$997 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$197,500
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher41.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree18.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over210,685
- Population under 1852,870
- Share under 1818.3 percent
- Population 65 and over44,707
- Share 65 and over15.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64190,935
- Civilian labor force159,680
- Unemployment rate5.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.8 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri independent cities5th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included251st of 3,222
St. Louis city is the 5th largest of 115 Missouri independent cities by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 18.3 percent against 15.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Louis city
Is St. Louis city's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024279,695
- Census 2020 base population301,371
- Population change since the 2020 census base-7.19 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-3,077
- Births, 20243,136
- Deaths, 20242,963
- Natural change, 2024173
- Net domestic migration, 2024-5,632
- Net international migration, 20242,403
- Total net migration, 2024-3,229
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-27,097
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents3088th of 3,144
The county has lost 7.19 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Louis city
Where are people moving to St. Louis city from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving12,316
- People arriving, from those returns17,779
- Tax returns filed by households leaving14,788
- Net household movement-2,472
- Adjusted gross income arriving$688.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-667.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$55,888
- Average income of a leaving household$91,700
- Largest single originSt. Louis County (5,353 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Louis County (7,063 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 5,353 | 8,559 | $247.8 m |
| St. Charles County | 564 | 736 | $28.8 m |
| St. Clair County | 399 | 604 | $15.4 m |
| Jefferson County | 371 | 533 | $15.9 m |
| Madison County | 293 | 368 | $15.3 m |
| Cook County | 264 | 334 | $21.0 m |
| Boone County | 115 | 136 | $5.7 m |
| Los Angeles County | 100 | 126 | $9.7 m |
Households arriving report $35,812 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. Louis city
What is the St. Louis city economy?
- County GDP, 2024$40.40 bn
- County GDP, 2023$38.62 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years33.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes3rd of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes146th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$140,039
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 33.9 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. Louis city
Employment by industry in St. Louis city
- Covered employment, annual average221,464
- Establishments reporting15,318
- Average annual pay$79,002
- Average weekly wage$1,519
- Health care and social assistance, employment53,564
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$80,320
- Accommodation and food services, employment19,108
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,497
- Educational services, employment17,380
- Educational services, average annual pay$62,924
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment16,867
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$120,374
- Manufacturing, employment16,124
- Finance and insurance, employment10,576
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 53,564 | 8,235 | $80,320 |
| Accommodation and food services | 19,108 | 951 | $31,497 |
| Educational services | 17,380 | 148 | $62,924 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 16,867 | 1,250 | $120,374 |
| Manufacturing | 16,124 | 436 | $95,330 |
| Finance and insurance | 10,576 | 326 | $123,409 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 8,757 | 386 | $44,947 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7,992 | 80 | $119,251 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 53,564 jobs, 24.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Louis city
How many businesses are in St. Louis city?
- Establishments, all industries8,468
- Employment at those establishments195,963
- Annual payroll$13.96 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.4
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. Louis city
Building permits in St. Louis city
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024294
- Declared construction value permitted$55.7 m
- Single family units authorized56
- Multifamily units authorized238
- Multifamily share of units81.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$189,516
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.0
Multifamily is 81.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Louis city
SBA loans in St. Louis city (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded292
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$141.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$486,100
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,127,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,402
- Jobs per approval11.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active66
- Distinct industries receiving approvals139
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms52
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter214
- Franchise loans30
- Franchise share of approvals10.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (27)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (53)
- 504 approvals recorded132
- 504 gross approval dollars$79.0 m
- Average 504 approval$598,712
- Median 504 approval$351,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval9.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.7
- Most active CDCSt. Charles County Economic Development Council (44)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$221.0 m
The average approval of $486,100 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.8 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. Louis city
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Louis city
Do SBA loans in St. Louis city get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded57
- Paid in full53
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans7.0 percent
- Status: Cancelled43
- Status: Exempt from disclosure176
- Status: Paid in full53
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed16
Of the 57 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.0 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. Louis city
SBA lending by place in St. Louis city
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Saint Louis, approvals287
- Clayton, approvals2
- St Loius, approvals1
- Austin, approvals1
- Creve Coeur, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis | 287 | $140,822,700 |
| Clayton | 2 | $270,000 |
| St Loius | 1 | $409,000 |
| Austin | 1 | $315,000 |
| Creve Coeur | 1 | $124,500 |
Saint Louis accounts for 287 approvals against 2 in Clayton. 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. Louis city
How large is St. Louis city?
- Land area62 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri independent cities115th of 115
- Width, east to west7.6 mi
- Height, north to south16.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land4,653
- Establishments per square mile136.58
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. Louis city
Flood risk in St. Louis city
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community St. Louis, city ofParticipating, community 290385
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in St. Louis city, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, the City of St. Louis (community 290385), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places St. Louis city 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. 100.0 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. Louis city 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. Louis city site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024288,512
- Households144,891
- Average household size1.99
- Median household income$56,160
- Median age36.8
Common questions
St. Louis city questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Louis city, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 279,695 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 288,512, in 144,891 households, ranking 5th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Louis city's population growing?
The population has fallen 7.19 percent since the 2020 census base of 301,371, to 279,695 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,136 births against 2,963 deaths, with net migration of -3,229. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Louis city?
$56,160. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $197,500, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $997 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Louis city?
8,468 establishments, employing 195,963 people with an annual payroll of $13.96 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. Louis city?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 53,564 jobs, 24.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 221,464 jobs at an average annual pay of $79,002, or $1,519 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Louis city?
292 7(a) approvals totaling $141.9 m since FY2020, across 66 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 132 504 approvals worth $79.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Louis city get paid back?
Of the 57 loans that have reached a final outcome, 53 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 7.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Louis city?
294 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $55.7 m. Multifamily was 81.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Louis city?
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. Louis city come from?
The largest single origin is St. Louis County, with 5,353 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,888 against $91,700 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. Louis city 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. Louis city?
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.
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