St Louis Missouri Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in St Louis, MO (the St Louis metro area) was $883 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in St Louis was $908 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 St Louis median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for St Louis rental vacancy rates, St Louis rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in St Louis.
Real Gross Rent in St Louis Missouri (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Missouri Median Gross Rent | $834 | -1.30% | +3.35% |
| St Louis, MO Median Gross Rent | $883 | -2.65% | -2.11% |
St Louis, MO Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for St Louis peaked in real terms in 2018 at $907 and is now $24 (2.65%) lower. Average gross rent for St Louis peaked in real terms in 2017 at $921 and is now $13 (1.41%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in St Louis: St Louis MO Median, St Louis MO Average, Missouri Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for St Louis
| Date | US Median |
Missouri Median |
St Louis, MO Median |
St Louis, MO Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $834 | $883 | $908 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $845 | $907 | $917 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $825 | $895 | $921 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $807 | $902 | $916 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $809 | $890 | $918 |
| 2014 | $986 | $796 | $863 | $875 |
| 2013 | $953 | $773 | $857 | $871 |
| 2012 | $940 | $751 | $816 | $833 |
| 2011 | $941 | $765 | $834 | $848 |
| 2010 | $955 | $762 | $820 | $832 |
| 2009 | $960 | $761 | $834 | $842 |
| 2007 | $927 | $726 | $805 | $813 |
| 2005 | $910 | $741 | $803 | $814 |
St Louis Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for St Louis Missouri was 5.21% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in St Louis Missouri
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Missouri | 5.15% | -1.42% | -1.66% |
| St Louis, MO | 5.21% | -1.53% | -1.79% |
Trends in St Louis, MO Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in St Louis peaked in 2005 at 8.74%. Since then it has fallen by 3.53% to 5.21%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: St Louis MO, Missouri, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for St Louis
| Date | US | Missouri | St Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.15% | 5.21% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.57% | 6.74% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.40% | 6.35% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.81% | 7.00% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.43% | 6.66% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.16% | 7.44% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.86% | 7.85% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.74% | 6.52% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.22% | 7.93% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.25% | 7.02% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 8.24% | 6.54% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.36% | 7.45% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.28% | 8.74% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for St Louis, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For St Louis, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.95% in 2019 according to the ACS.
St Louis Missouri Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Missouri | 17.43% | -0.85% | -0.45% |
| St Louis, MO | 15.95% | -1.07% | -1.33% |
Trends in St Louis, MO Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median St Louis household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.11%. Since then it has fallen by 2.15% to 15.95%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: St Louis MO, Missouri, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in St Louis Missouri
| Date | US | Missouri | St Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.43% | 15.95% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.28% | 17.03% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.92% | 16.92% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.88% | 17.28% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.23% | 17.82% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.71% | 17.65% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.77% | 17.94% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 17.62% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.11% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.47% | 17.30% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.72% | 16.99% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.44% | 15.67% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.95% | 15.81% |
Renter Fraction in St Louis Missouri
You can calculate the renter fraction in St Louis in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in St Louis as a fraction of total St Louis households. In 2019 30.81% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
St Louis Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Missouri | 32.88% | -0.34% | -1.04% |
| St Louis, MO | 30.81% | -0.83% | -0.89% |
Trends in the St Louis, MO Renter Fraction
The St Louis household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 31.71% and is now 0.90% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: St Louis MO, Missouri, US
History of St Louis Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Missouri | St Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 32.88% | 30.81% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.22% | 31.64% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.05% | 31.10% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 33.92% | 31.70% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.87% | 31.71% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.09% | 31.32% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.03% | 30.42% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 32.53% | 30.33% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 31.95% | 29.56% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.02% | 29.51% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.92% | 29.31% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.34% | 26.68% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.36% | 26.89% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
