In the heart of the East Coast, Bronx, NY, provides a bustling, diverse and cosmopolitan lifestyle with distinct seasons, while St. Louis, MO, situated in the Midwest, offers a more relaxed environment with cultural immersion and historical charm. Both cities possess unique attributes across various areas such as crime and safety, cost of living, education, employment, and more.
The Bronx has made significant strides in reducing crime rates over the years; however, it still has some neighborhoods that struggle with higher crime rates. Efforts from local law enforcement and community organizations have been keen on improving safety. Tourists tend to stick to safer, more popular areas. On the other hand, the crime rate in St. Louis is relatively higher, with some areas suffering from serious crime issues. Efforts are ongoing to combat crime and improve safety.
Cost of Living
The cost of living is significantly higher in the Bronx than in St. Louis. Housing is the largest factor in this difference, with costs in the Bronx being substantially higher. Residents in St. Louis enjoy a lower cost of living, which could be attractive for people considering relocation.
Income Tax
Income tax in the Bronx is based on New York state law, which tends to be high compared to other states. Missouri's state income tax rates in St. Louis are considerably lower.
Property Tax
Property tax in the Bronx, as a borough of New York City, is generally high. Property taxes in St. Louis tend to be lower, again reflecting the overall lower cost of living.
Sales Tax
Sales tax in the Bronx is relatively high, reflecting New York City's overall tax structure. St. Louis' sales tax is lower, making everyday purchases less expensive.
Income
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Estimated median household income
$43,011
$49,965
Estimated per capita income
$23,354
$33,810
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
172.8
96.5
If you make $50,000 in St. Louis, you will have to make $89,534 in Bronx to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
The Bronx, located on the mainland in New York City, is defined by the Hudson River's estuaries and the Long Island Sound. St. Louis sits along the Mississippi River, notable for its riverfront and the Gateway Arch.
Geographical information
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Land area
42 sq. miles
61.9 sq. miles
Population density
32,928 people per sq. mile
4,736.6 people per sq. mile
Elevation
120 feet
465 feet
Relative area comparison
Bronx, NY St. Louis, MO
Education
The Bronx is home to a multitude of educational institutions including the well-respected Fordham University and high-performing specialized high schools. St. Louis also boasts reputable educational institutions, like Washington University. Both cities offer solid opportunities for quality K-12 and higher education.
The Bronx's economy is robust, boasting low unemployment and a healthy job market, driven by sectors like health care, education, and retail. St. Louis also enjoys a strong economy, but it’s more diversified with a strong presence of manufacturing, healthcare, and services sector.
Biggest Employers
In the Bronx, the biggest employers are in the healthcare and education sectors, with Montefiore Medical Center and Fordham University leading the pack. In St. Louis, major employers include BJC HealthCare, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and Washington University.
In Bronx (Bronx County), 91.9% voted for Democrats and 8.1% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In St. Louis (St. Louis city), 82.4% voted for Democrats and 15.9% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
2020
83.7%
82.4%
16.0%
16.1%
0.3%
1.6%
2016
88.6%
79.0%
9.5%
15.8%
2.0%
5.2%
2012
91.9%
82.4%
8.1%
15.9%
0.0%
1.6%
2008
89.0%
83.8%
11.0%
15.5%
0.0%
0.7%
2004
82.9%
80.4%
16.5%
19.2%
0.6%
0.3%
2000
86.5%
77.5%
11.8%
19.9%
1.7%
2.6%
1996
85.8%
74.8%
10.5%
18.1%
3.7%
7.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
CATHOLIC CHURCH
25.5%
15.4%
11.5%
9.5%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
2.8%
1.1%
3.9%
2.4%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.7%
1.8%
4.4%
2.4%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.7%
0.3%
6.5%
0.5%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.4%
0.5%
3.7%
1.5%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.2%
2.5%
2.4%
9.0%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.1%
2.2%
0.6%
6.1%
Weather
The Bronx enjoys a largely temperate climate, with cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Spring and fall are generally mild, offering beautiful seasonal changes. St. Louis experiences a similar four-season climate, but with more extreme conditions. Summers are hotter, and winters can be quite cold, albeit less snowy than the Bronx.
Weather and climate
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Temperature - Average
54.7°F
56.5°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
67.2%
74.8%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
26.4%
32%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
75.6%
85%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
49.2%
53%
Precipitation - Yearly average
47 in
39 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
54.5 in
37.2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
16.5%
16.7%
Sunshine amount - Average
60.2%
62.2%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
30%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
64%
71%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
44%
41%
Wind speed - Average
10.7 mph
9.8 mph
Average climate in Bronx, New York
Average climate in St. Louis, Missouri
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
Bronx
St. Louis
2018
102
101
0.31
0.26
15.8
10.7
24.4
27.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
19.7
7.4
9.8
0.6
0.8
2017
100
90
0.04
0.25
15.7
10.4
24.6
28.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.2
7.0
8.0
0.6
1.4
2016
98
96
0.30
0.29
16.4
11.1
24.6
25.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
15.5
7.2
8.5
0.8
1.2
2015
105
97
0.28
0.28
18.0
11.8
23.6
22.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.6
8.6
10.5
1.4
1.6
2014
99
97
0.32
0.27
18.0
12.2
23.6
25.5
N/A
N/A
N/A
17.8
8.4
10.5
1.7
1.8
2013
103
92
0.39
0.27
18.9
12.2
23.5
26.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.3
9.3
10.6
2.1
2.1
2012
104
114
0.44
0.27
18.8
14.4
23.9
27.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
17.5
9.7
10.2
3.1
2.3
2011
113
107
0.46
0.27
20.9
13.2
22.1
27.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
17.3
11.6
12.4
4.5
2.7
2010
113
110
0.53
0.31
20.2
12.8
23.7
23.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
16.2
10.8
12.9
4.7
3.3
2009
107
101
0.53
0.31
22.3
12.5
19.5
22.2
N/A
0.039
N/A
21.6
10.8
12.4
5.4
2.8
2008
114
98
0.53
0.32
23.3
12.9
19.9
22.9
0.013
0.054
N/A
32.4
12.1
12.8
5.9
2.6
2007
122
125
0.60
0.37
24.6
14.1
19.1
24.3
0.016
0.055
N/A
38.8
13.2
14.6
7.0
2.9
2006
120
109
0.50
0.38
25.0
15.2
18.9
23.3
0.018
0.044
N/A
38.2
12.8
14.7
7.0
3.1
2005
115
110
0.60
0.39
27.0
16.3
17.8
24.4
N/A
0.056
N/A
41.4
N/A
N/A
9.3
4.1
2004
109
92
0.62
0.49
25.6
20.0
16.7
19.6
0.030
0.013
N/A
38.3
N/A
N/A
8.8
3.7
2003
110
106
0.75
0.49
27.4
19.6
17.1
21.7
0.022
0.044
26.9
37.8
N/A
N/A
8.9
3.7
2002
124
117
0.67
0.56
27.9
21.7
17.4
21.1
0.008
0.022
25.0
45.4
N/A
N/A
8.6
4.4
2001
126
100
0.66
0.57
30.0
22.4
17.8
20.4
0.020
0.057
22.8
46.6
N/A
N/A
10.0
5.0
2000
115
98
0.68
0.78
29.4
23.8
16.0
20.6
0.022
0.057
22.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
10.2
5.5
Natural disasters
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
58.3%
182.4%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
31%
413.3%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
14%
0%
Transportation
The Bronx is served by New York City's comprehensive public transit system, known for its extensive subway and bus networks. St. Louis has the MetroLink light rail and MetroBus service, and being less densely populated, personal car usage is more prevalent.
Transport
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Amtrak stations
0
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
2
FAA registered aircraft
39
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Bicycle
0.2%
0.5%
Bus
15.6%
3.7%
Carpooled
9.3%
7.5%
Car alone
27%
83.9%
Railroad
2%
0.3%
Streetcar
0.2%
0.2%
Subway
34.6%
0.3%
Taxicab
1.3%
0.3%
Walked
7.2%
2.5%
Average travel time to work
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Average
44.2 min
29.4 min
Real Estate
Real estate in the Bronx is more expensive than in St. Louis, reflecting its location within the coveted New York City area. St. Louis' real estate market is more affordable, but it also has fewer high-end options than the Bronx.
Neighborhoods
The Bronx boasts diverse neighborhoods, from the residential charm of Riverdale to the vibrant, cultural hub of South Bronx. St. Louis offers historical neighborhoods like Central West End and the youthful vibrancy of the Delmar Loop.
Houses and residents
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Houses
490,659
173,493
Average household size (people)
2.8
2.2
Houses occupied
463,212 (94.4%)
139,736 (80.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
90,522 (19.5%)
63,653 (45.6%)
Houses occupied by renters
372,690 (80.5%)
76,083 (54.4%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,273
$923.98
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$708,992
$56,913
Estimated median house or condo value
$465,000
$170,800
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.7
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.1
5.9
Renting percentage
80.7%
54.6%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
11,675
2,801.7
Household income disparities
50.2%
48.3%
Housing units without a mortgage
12,021 (34%)
1,236 (2.9%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
105 (0.3%)
2,537 (6%)
Housing units with a mortgage
23,339 (66%)
41,018 (97.1%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
2,053 (5.8%)
188 (0.4%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
2,159 (6.1%)
3,349 (7.9%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.4%
9.2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
16,572
8,126
State government workers
14,515
2,962
Unpaid family workers
1,000
315
Industries and Occupations
Healthcare, education, and retail dominate the Bronx's employment landscape. St. Louis, however, has a more diverse set of dominant sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and services. Both cities offer opportunities for a broad range of occupations.
Both cities score high on healthcare services. The Bronx offers a multitude of top-tier hospitals like Montefiore Medical Center, while St. Louis is nationally recognized for its cutting-edge medical facilities, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Both cities have well-developed infrastructure, but the Bronx benefits from being part of the larger New York City infrastructure, including its comprehensive public transit system. St. Louis is served by an extensive highway system and public transit services, including the MetroLink light rail and MetroBus.
Infrastructure
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Hospitals
57
1
TV stations
30
19
Bank branches located here
118
30
Bank institutions located here
24
12
Main business address for public companies
2
7
Schools
School facilities
Type
Bronx
St. Louis
Private elementary/middle schools
54
0
Private high schools
20
0
Public elementary/middle schools
285
136
Public high schools
155
44
Colleges/Universities
9
6
Culture and Food
The Bronx offers a rich and diverse cultural scene, with a plethora of ethnic foods, cultural events, and venues like the Bronx zoo and Botanical Garden. St. Louis also has a vibrant cultural scene, offering classic Midwestern cuisine, blues music, and the iconic Gateway Arch.
Sports Teams
The Bronx is known for the Yankees, while St. Louis is home to the Cardinals. Both cities have a lively sports culture, with the Yankees' baseball games being a popular attraction in the Bronx and the Cardinals' games drawing crowds in St. Louis.
Bronx, NY
St. Louis, MO
Bronx, NY and 
St. Louis, MO : 881.8 miles
