I know there's a county vs. City thread already. I just thought I'd post some basic demographic differences between suburbs and the city based on City-Data info.
Population (year 2000): 348,189. Estimated population in July 2006: 347,181 (-0.3% change)
The City:
Males: 163,567
(47.0%)Females: 184,622
(53.0%)
Median resident age:
33.7 years Missouri median age:
36.1 years
Estimated median household income in 2005: $30,874 (it was $27,156 in 2000)
St. Louis
$30,874 Missouri:
$41,974
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $103,300 (it was $63,900 in 2000) St. Louis
$103,300Missouri:
$123,100
Median gross rent in 2005: $567.
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2005: 25.4%
(15.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 34.4% for Black residents)
Races in St. Louis:
- Black (51.2%)
- White Non-Hispanic (42.9%)
- Hispanic (2.0%)
- Two or more races (1.9%)
- Vietnamese (1.0%)
- American Indian (0.8%)
- Other race (0.8%)
Land area: 61.9 square miles. Population density: 5694 people per square mile
(average).
For population 25 years and over in St. Louis- High school or higher: 71.3%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.1%
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6%
- Unemployed: 11.3%
- Mean travel time to work: 25.1 minutes
For population 15 years and over in St. Louis city- Never married: 41.5%
- Now married: 32.7%
- Separated: 4.4%
- Widowed: 9.2%
- Divorced: 12.3%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2005: $871 (0.8%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2005: $745 (0.9%)
Unemployment in September 2007:
Here:
7.0%Missouri:
5.1%
Murders per 100k - 37.2 (.000372% chance a citizen will be murdered)
Rapes - 97.2 (.000972% chance)
Robbies 907.2 (.009072% chance)
assaults - 1439.1 (.014391% chance)
Burglaries 2453.3 (.024533% chance)
thefts 6802.4 (.068024% chance)
auto thefts - 2492.2 (.024922% chance)
arson 124.3 (.001243)
Crime index 1355.3 (average city 323.3)
To the suburbs:
Chesterfield:
Population (year 2000): 46,802. Estimated population in July 2006: 46,635 (-0.4% change)
Males: 22,371
(47.8%)Females: 24,431
(52.2%
Median resident age:
41.8 yearsMissouri median age:
36.1 years
Estimated median household income in 2005: $90,000 (it was $83,802 in 2000)
Chesterfield
$90,000 Missouri:
$41,974
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $337,200 (it was $238,300 in 2000)
Chesterfield
$337,200Missouri:
$123,100
Races in Chesterfield:
- White Non-Hispanic (90.1%)
- Chinese (2.3%)
- Black (1.9%)
- Hispanic (1.6%)
- Asian Indian (1.4%)
- Two or more races (0.7%)
- Korean (0.7%)
For population 25 years and over in Chesterfield- High school or higher: 95.9%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 60.6%
- Graduate or professional degree: 24.0%
- Unemployed: 2.5%
- Mean travel time to work: 23.6 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Chesterfield city- Never married: 19.3%
- Now married: 66.0%
- Separated: 0.5%
- Widowed: 7.2%
- Divorced: 7.0%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:
Chesterfield:
1.1% ($2,675)Missouri:
0.9% ($851)
Not going to go through the crime numbers, because obviously they're lower.
Crime index = 87.9 average = 242.5
Florissant
Population (year 2000): 50,497. Estimated population in July 2006: 51,387 (+1.8% change)
Males: 23,843
(47.2%)Females: 26,654
(52.8%)
Median resident age:
37.1 yearsMissouri median age:
36.1 years
Estimated median household income in 2005: $47,700 (it was $44,462 in 2000)
Florissant
$47,700Missouri:
$41,974
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $106,600 (it was $75,300 in 2000)
Florissant
$106,600Missouri:
$123,100
Races in Florissant:
- White Non-Hispanic (84.8%)
- Black (11.5%)
- Hispanic (1.5%)
- Two or more races (1.5%)
- American Indian (0.6%)
- Other race (0.5%)
For population 25 years and over in Florissant- High school or higher: 85.9%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.4%
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
- Unemployed: 4.3%
- Mean travel time to work: 24.0 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Florissant city- Never married: 24.6%
- Now married: 53.5%
- Separated: 1.4%
- Widowed: 9.3%
- Divorced: 11.2%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:
Florissant:
1.3% ($977)Missouri:
0.9% ($851)
Crime index = 145.7
Kirkwood
Population (year 2000): 27,324. Estimated population in July 2006: 26,936 (-1.4% change)
Males: 12,485
(45.7%)Females: 14,839
(54.3%)
Median resident age:
41.1 yearsMissouri median age:
36.1 years
Estimated median household income in 2005: $59,200 (it was $55,122 in 2000)
Kirkwood
$59,200Missouri:
$41,974
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $227,100 (it was $160,500 in 2000)
Kirkwood
$227,100Missouri:
$123,100
Races in Kirkwood:
- White Non-Hispanic (90.0%)
- Black (7.1%)
- Hispanic (1.1%)
- Two or more races (0.9%)
For population 25 years and over in Kirkwood- High school or higher: 94.2%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 51.5%
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.7%
- Unemployed: 2.6%
- Mean travel time to work: 20.9 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Kirkwood city- Never married: 24.6%
- Now married: 55.2%
- Separated: 1.0%
- Widowed: 9.0%
- Divorced: 10.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:
Kirkwood:
1.1% ($1,693)Missouri:
0.9% ($851)
2005 Crime index 183.5 average 284.5
Clayton
Population (year 2000): 12,825
Males: 6,427
(50.1%)Females: 6,398
(49.9%)
Median resident age:
36.7 yearsMissouri median age:
36.1 years
Estimated median household income in 2005: $68,900 (it was $64,184 in 2000)
Clayton
$68,900Missouri:
$41,974
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $601,400 (it was $425,000 in 2000)
Clayton
$601,400Missouri:
$123,100
Races in Clayton:
- White Non-Hispanic (83.7%)
- Black (7.8%)
- Chinese (2.9%)
- Hispanic (1.5%)
- Two or more races (1.2%)
- Asian Indian (0.9%)
- Korean (0.8%)
For population 25 years and over in Clayton- High school or higher: 96.5%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 69.7%
- Graduate or professional degree: 36.3%
- Unemployed: 3.9%
- Mean travel time to work: 17.0 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Clayton city- Never married: 31.4%
- Now married: 52.0%
- Separated: 0.8%
- Widowed: 6.0%
- Divorced: 9.7%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:
Clayton:
0.9% ($3,912)Missouri:
0.9% ($851)
Crime index 161.6 average 323.2
Anyway, the typical suburb is comprised of families, majority white, who make a good income. Crime is usually low. Diversity isn't usually a strong suit. There are some exceptions, such as University City:
Population (year 2000): 37,428. Estimated population in July 2006: 36,847 (-1.6% change)
Males: 17,103
(45.7%)Females: 20,325
(54.3%)
Median resident age:
35.4 yearsMissouri median age:
36.1 years
Estimated median household income in 2005: $43,900 (it was $40,902 in 2000)
University City
$43,900Missouri:
$41,974
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $148,300 (it was $104,800 in 2000)
University City
$148,300Missouri:
$123,100
Races in University City:
- White Non-Hispanic (48.4%)
- Black (45.4%)
- Two or more races (1.8%)
- Hispanic (1.6%)
- Chinese (1.2%)
- Asian Indian (0.7%)
- American Indian (0.6%)
- Other race (0.6%)
For population 25 years and over in University City- High school or higher: 87.4%
- Bachelor's degree or higher: 45.0%
- Graduate or professional degree: 23.6%
- Unemployed: 4.3%
- Mean travel time to work: 20.5 minutes
For population 15 years and over in University City city
Never married: 36.2%
- Now married: 42.4%
- Separated: 2.7%
- Widowed: 7.9%
- Divorced: 10.7%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000:
University City:
1.3% ($1,325)Missouri:
0.9% ($851)
2005 Crime index 367.5 average 284.5
So, with some exceptions, here are the demographic differences between the two. Neither is necessarily better, just different.
Suburb:
Less dense, mostly white, higher income, lower crime, better schools, may be kind of bland and boring. Longer commute, usually with cars
City:
More dense, more diverse, lower-to-middle income, higher crime, worse public schools, more to do culturally (zoos, museums, sports). shorter commute, public transportation usually available
Anyway, neither is better. They're just different. I hope that, at least statistically, helps clear it up.
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Demographic Difference Between the City and Suburbs
Great Info
Linear Mode
