St. Louis County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

St. Louis County is located in Missouri with a total population of 996,618. It is the 1st most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in St. Louis County is 40.2 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in St. Louis County is $81,340. This is 18% higher than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 24% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $260,700. Housing costs are 21% higher than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in St. Louis County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (24.1% vs 11.0%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.7% vs 2.1%).

Education

46.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places St. Louis County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%. Notably, 20.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.