B+

Saint Charles, MO

Source:

Affordability Score: 76/100

Population: 134,684 · 3 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Saint Charles, MO aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes covering 134,684 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (76/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $98,740, median home value of $310,784, median rent of $1,407 per month, and 45.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,218 per month (studio $955, 1BR $995, 3BR $1,568, 4BR $1,812).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Saint Charles, MO include income, education, rent. Unemployment currently reads 3.1% and poverty 5.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B+
$98,740
Median household income
Education B+
45.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.1x
Home value $310,784 vs income
Commute C+
23 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,218/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$98,740
▲ 59% vs national
Per Capita Income
$53,835
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Poverty Rate
5.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$310,784
▲ 13% vs national
Median Rent
$1,407/mo
Owner Occupied
77.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,218/mo
▲ 2% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$955
1BR
$995
2BR
$1,218
3BR
$1,568
4BR
$1,812

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
45.1%
▲ 15 ppt vs national
High School+
67.4%
Median Age
40.0
Avg. Commute
23 min
▼ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Saint Charles, MO receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (76/100), aggregated from 3 ZIP codes with a total population of 134,684. This area performs well in income and education and rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Saint Charles ZIP Codes
View all 3 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Saint Charles, MO affordable?
Saint Charles, MO receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (76/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $98,740. Median home value is $310,784.
What is the cost of living in Saint Charles?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,407/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,218/mo. Median home value $310,784.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →