St. Louis County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
St. Louis County, Missouri has a population of 995,569 across 508 square miles, down 1.1 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $114.81 bn in 2024, 29,717 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 1,057 7(a) approvals worth $666.7 m.
123 sourced county values · tier FULL · 11 sections
St. Louis County
How many people live in St. Louis County
- Population995,569
- Households413,849
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$82,936
- Median age40.3
- Median gross rent$1,209 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$276,800
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher47.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree20.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over693,174
- Population under 18218,904
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over190,319
- Share 65 and over19.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64586,346
- Civilian labor force521,387
- Unemployment rate4.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.1 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties1st of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents50th
St. Louis County is the 1st largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.0 percent against 19.1 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 County
Is St. Louis County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.15 percent
- Census 2020 base population1,004,501
- Births, 20249,409
- Deaths, 202410,029
- Natural change, 2024-620
- Net domestic migration, 2024-3,906
- Net international migration, 20246,550
- Total net migration, 20242,644
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-23,279
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2245th
The county has lost 1.15 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Louis County
Where people moving to St. Louis County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving23,389
- People arriving, from those returns39,489
- Adjusted gross income arriving$2.21 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$94,672
- Largest single originSt. Louis County Non-migrants (388,341 households)
- Largest single destination (388,341 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County Non-migrants | 388,341 | 766,239 | $53.30 bn |
| St. Louis city | 7,063 | 12,448 | $765.8 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 3,714 | 6,512 | $311.9 m |
| St. Charles County | 2,570 | 4,077 | $177.1 m |
| Jefferson County | 1,758 | 2,942 | $101.5 m |
| Other flows - South | 1,484 | 2,603 | $108.3 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 1,136 | 1,903 | $85.8 m |
| St. Clair County | 629 | 1,022 | $32.3 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is St. Louis County Non-migrants, 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 County
What the St. Louis County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$114.81 bn
- County GDP, 2023$110.29 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.1 percent
- GDP change over five years33.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among Missouri counties1st
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents52nd
- GDP per resident$115,318
Output grew 4.1 percent in the latest year and 33.4 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 County
Who employs people in St. Louis County
- Covered employment, annual average596,676
- Establishments reporting45,255
- Average annual pay$75,926
- Average weekly wage$1,460
- Sector 62, employment98,227
- Sector 62, average annual pay$64,316
- Sector 44-45, employment57,413
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$43,471
- Sector 31-33, employment48,908
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$95,460
- Sector 72, employment48,090
- Sector 72, average annual pay$28,269
- Sector 56, employment41,846
- Sector 54, employment39,204
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 98,227 | 18,055 | $64,316 |
| Sector 44-45 | 57,413 | 3,330 | $43,471 |
| Sector 31-33 | 48,908 | 1,012 | $95,460 |
| Sector 72 | 48,090 | 2,279 | $28,269 |
| Sector 56 | 41,846 | 1,823 | $71,039 |
| Sector 54 | 39,204 | 4,380 | $109,660 |
| Sector 52 | 34,737 | 2,478 | $125,500 |
| Sector 42 | 33,628 | 1,980 | $97,055 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 98,227 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Louis County
What businesses operate in St. Louis County
- Establishments, all industries29,717
- Employment at those establishments629,036
- Annual payroll$46.38 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Louis County
What is being built in St. Louis County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20241,193
- Declared construction value permitted$547.0 m
- Single family units authorised687
- Multifamily units authorised506
- Multifamily share of units42.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$458,511
- Units authorised per 1,000 households2.9
Multifamily is 42.4 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Louis County
How much SBA lending happens in St. Louis County
- 7(a) approvals recorded1,057
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$666.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$630,709
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$34,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,730,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)13,878
- Jobs per approval13.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active122
- Distinct industries receiving approvals288
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms112
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter848
- Franchise loans151
- Franchise share of approvals14.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (37)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (153)
- 504 approvals recorded400
- 504 gross approval dollars$310.1 m
- Average 504 approval$775,225
- Median 504 approval$519,000
- Distinct CDCs active11
- 504 jobs per approval13.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.4
- Most active CDCSt. Charles County Economic Development Council (197)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals72.5 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$976.7 m
The average approval of $630,709 sits well above the median of $250,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 10.6 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 County
Do SBA loans in St. Louis County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded240
- Paid in full227
- Charged off13
- Charge off rate on resolved loans5.4 percent
- Status: Paid in full227
- Status: Cancelled143
- Status: Exempt from disclosure626
- Status: Charged off13
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed48
Of the 240 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.4 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.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Louis County
Which parts of St. Louis County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending49
- Saint Louis, approvals543
- CHESTERFIELD, approvals86
- Ballwin, approvals54
- FENTON, approvals53
- MARYLAND HEIGHTS, approvals44
- Florissant, approvals39
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis | 543 | $344,264,000 |
| CHESTERFIELD | 86 | $51,404,900 |
| Ballwin | 54 | $30,379,300 |
| FENTON | 53 | $38,584,500 |
| MARYLAND HEIGHTS | 44 | $34,282,200 |
| Florissant | 39 | $7,695,200 |
| Bridgeton | 32 | $24,679,700 |
| Hazelwood | 30 | $44,707,700 |
Saint Louis accounts for 543 approvals against 86 in CHESTERFIELD. 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 County
How big is St. Louis County
- Land area508 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties77th of 115
- Width, east to west33.4 mi
- Height, north to south34.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land1,960
- Establishments per square mile58.50
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.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- No NFIP communities are listed for this county in the FEMA Community Status Book.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a St. Louis 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. Louis County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population995,569
- Households413,849
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$82,936
- Median age40.3
Common questions
St. Louis County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Louis County, Missouri?
995,569, in 413,849 households, ranking 1st of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Louis County growing?
The population has fallen 1.15 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 9,409 births against 10,029 deaths, with net migration of 2,644. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Louis County?
$82,936. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $276,800, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,209 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in St. Louis County?
29,717 establishments, employing 629,036 people with an annual payroll of $46.38 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in St. Louis County?
Average annual pay is $75,926, or $1,460 a week, across 596,676 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Louis County?
1,057 7(a) approvals totalling $666.7 m since FY2020, across 122 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 400 504 approvals worth $310.1 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Louis County get paid back?
Of the 240 loans that have reached a final outcome, 227 were paid in full and 13 charged off, a charge off rate of 5.4 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in St. Louis County?
1,193 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $547.0 m. Multifamily was 42.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Louis 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. Louis County come from?
The largest single origin is St. Louis County Non-migrants, with 388,341 households. Arriving households report an average income of $94,672 against null 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 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. Louis County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.