Is Fresno cheaper than St Louis?

No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,664 in Fresno — 27% lower. Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so Fresno has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Fresno or St Louis?

St Louis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 122 in Fresno — 5% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Fresno or St Louis?

School composites are close: A- in Fresno and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Fresno, CA vs St Louis, MO

Fresno, CA versus St Louis, MO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,664 a month in Fresno and $1,218 in St Louis, and median household income lands at $63,001 versus $52,941. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Fresno takes job market, while St Louis takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where St Louis leads by 67% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Fresno can feel further apart than Fresno and St Louis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Fresno and St Louis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Fresno report Full St Louis report

Fresno, CA

Rent: $1,664/mo
Median income: $63,001
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

St Louis, MO

Rent: $1,218/mo
Median income: $52,941
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

27% cheaper

St Louis rent is 27% cheaper than Fresno

Fresno

$1,664/mo

St Louis

Winner

$1,218/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,218 a month in St Louis versus $1,664 in Fresno, so St Louis is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $446/month back in your pocket — $5,352/year. Over five years that's $26,760 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Fresno, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

19% higher

Fresno's median income is 19% higher than St Louis

Fresno

Winner

$63,001

St Louis

$52,941

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno versus $52,941 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Fresno — about $10,060 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Fresno is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

5% lower crime

St Louis's crime index is 5% lower than Fresno

Fresno

122 (100 = avg)

St Louis

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

St Louis's crime index is 116 versus 122 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in St Louis. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Louis, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fresno. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Fresno and St Louis are about even on school scores.

Fresno

A- · 84/100

St Louis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Fresno, A- in St Louis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

67% more comfortable

St Louis weather is 67% more comfortable than Fresno

Fresno

91°F typical

St Louis

Winner

78°F typical

What this means for your life

St Louis scores 67% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Fresno and 78°F in St Louis. Fresno reads as hot, long summers; St Louis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. St Louis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Fresno can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Fresno

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Fresno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 19% higher here ($63,001). Start with Fresno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Fresno report →

Fit check

Who should choose St Louis

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,218 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick St Louis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (78°F) beat Fresno on this page's weather index by 67%. Fresno may pay more or cost less, but St Louis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

St Louis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Fresno (116 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the St Louis report →

Bottom line

Fresno vs St Louis, called

If weather is your priority, St Louis is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Fresno pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, St Louis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Fresno vs St Louis FAQ

Is Fresno cheaper than St Louis?: No. St Louis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,218 a month versus $1,664 in Fresno — 27% lower. Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno compared with $52,941 in St Louis, so Fresno has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Fresno or St Louis?: St Louis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 122 in Fresno — 5% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Fresno or St Louis?: School composites are close: A- in Fresno and A- in St Louis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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