Dallas, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri, are two vibrant cities in the United States with distinct, alluring features. While Dallas offers a robust economy, diverse culture, and thriving industries, St. Louis offers a mix of rich history, sporting atmosphere, and affordable living. This guide compares the cities' various aspects, including safety and crime rates, weather conditions, cost of living, educational opportunities, economic performance, infrastructure, industries, and more. This comparison could be useful for both potential residents seeking to relocate and tourists seeking short-term experiences.
Distance between
Dallas, TX and
St. Louis, MO : 544.6 miles
Dallas's population is larger by 339%. Its population has grown by 99,877 people (8.4%) since 2000. The population of St. Louis has decreased by 54,879 people (15.8%) during that time.
When considering crime rates, Dallas has a lower crime rate compared to St. Louis. Though both cities have been working towards reducing their crime rates, it's important for residents and tourists to stay informed about the neighborhoods they plan to visit or reside in. However, just like in any large city, understanding and being aware of your surroundings can significantly impact personal safety.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 4,297 registered sex offenders living in Dallas and 2,530 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Dallas is 307 to 1; the ratio in St. Louis is 123 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in Dallas than in St. Louis.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in St. Louis is relatively lower than in Dallas. St. Louis has a lower overall cost in housing, groceries, healthcare, and transportation. This affordability can make St. Louis a more attractive option for families and individuals considering relocation.
Income Tax
Texas, including Dallas, does not have a state income tax, while Missouri, including St. Louis, does impose a state income tax. This is an important consideration for those considering employment in either city.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Texas are among the highest in the nation, which has an impact on Dallas homeowners. In contrast, St. Louis property owners tend to pay less in property taxes.
Sales Tax
The sales tax in Dallas is slightly higher than in St. Louis. Dallas has an 8.25% combined city and state sales tax, while St. Louis has an 8.68% combined rate.
Income
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Estimated median household income
$57,995
$49,965
Estimated per capita income
$38,479
$33,810
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
96.1
96.5
If you make $50,000 in Dallas, you will have to make $50,208 in St. Louis to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Dallas is characterized by flat terrain and is part of the Texas plains, while St. Louis is nestled beside the Mississippi River and has a more varied landscape with hilly terrain.
Both Dallas and St. Louis boast robust education systems, with a variety of public and private universities and primary schools. In Dallas, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Texas at Dallas are notable. In St. Louis, Washington University is renowned for its medicine and law programs.
Dallas has a stronger and more diverse economy, with growth across technology, healthcare, and financial services sectors. St. Louis, on the other hand, is known for its healthcare, education, and service sectors. Both cities offer career opportunities, but Dallas may have more diverse options.
Biggest Employers
In Dallas, some of the biggest employers include AT&T, American Airlines, and Texas Health Resources. In St. Louis, the largest employers are BJC HealthCare, Washington University, and Boeing Defense.
There were 2,245 building permits issued in Dallas in 2012 (1436 more than in 2011) compared to 146 building permits issued in St. Louis in 2012 (105 more than in 2011).
In Dallas (Dallas County), 57.3% voted for Democrats and 41.8% 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
Dallas
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
2020
65.1%
82.4%
33.4%
16.1%
1.4%
1.6%
2016
60.8%
79.0%
34.7%
15.8%
4.5%
5.2%
2012
57.3%
82.4%
41.8%
15.9%
1.0%
1.6%
2008
57.4%
83.8%
42.0%
15.5%
0.6%
0.7%
2004
49.0%
80.4%
50.4%
19.2%
0.5%
0.3%
2000
45.0%
77.5%
52.7%
19.9%
2.4%
2.6%
1996
46.0%
74.8%
46.8%
18.1%
7.2%
7.1%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Dallas
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
CATHOLIC CHURCH
18.9%
15.4%
2.4%
9.5%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
11.0%
2.5%
31.1%
9.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.6%
1.1%
1.1%
2.4%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.0%
0.5%
1.5%
1.5%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.5%
0.3%
1.7%
0.5%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.2%
0.9%
1.0%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
2.2%
0.7%
6.1%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.1%
1.8%
0.2%
2.4%
Weather
Dallas experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. St. Louis also has a humid continental and subtropical climate, but it's slightly cooler with definite seasonal changes where winters can get rather cold. While Dallas offers more predictably warm weather, St. Louis offers a bit more variety in terms of seasons.
Weather and climate
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Temperature - Average
66.6°F
56.5°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
71.3%
74.8%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
34%
32%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
82%
85%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
53%
Precipitation - Yearly average
37.3 in
39 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
4.2 in
37.2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
22.8%
16.7%
Sunshine amount - Average
66.6%
62.2%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
20%
30%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
71%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
54%
41%
Wind speed - Average
10.3 mph
9.8 mph
Average climate in Dallas, Texas
Average climate in St. Louis, Missouri
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Dallas
St. Louis
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
Dallas
St. Louis
2018
86
101
0.26
N/A
5.7
10.7
28.7
27.5
N/A
N/A
19.7
N/A
9.7
9.8
0.4
0.8
2017
84
90
0.25
N/A
5.5
10.4
28.6
28.5
N/A
N/A
16.2
N/A
9.1
8.0
0.3
1.4
2016
81
96
0.29
N/A
6.1
11.1
27.2
25.8
N/A
N/A
15.5
N/A
8.4
8.5
0.2
1.2
2015
85
97
0.28
N/A
6.5
11.8
26.7
22.2
N/A
N/A
16.6
N/A
8.9
10.5
0.3
1.6
2014
83
97
0.27
N/A
6.3
12.2
27.6
25.5
N/A
N/A
17.8
N/A
9.9
10.5
0.3
1.8
2013
97
92
0.27
N/A
7.3
12.2
28.8
26.2
N/A
N/A
16.3
N/A
13.0
10.6
0.2
2.1
2012
116
114
0.27
N/A
8.6
14.4
31.0
27.9
N/A
N/A
17.5
N/A
12.0
10.2
0.3
2.3
2011
98
107
0.27
N/A
9.4
13.2
30.9
27.0
N/A
N/A
17.3
N/A
11.9
12.4
0.6
2.7
2010
79
110
0.31
N/A
9.4
12.8
28.3
23.1
N/A
N/A
16.2
N/A
N/A
12.9
0.7
3.3
2009
88
101
0.31
N/A
9.2
12.5
28.8
22.2
N/A
0.039
21.6
N/A
N/A
12.4
0.5
2.8
2008
88
98
0.32
N/A
9.8
12.9
29.2
22.9
0.121
0.054
32.4
N/A
N/A
12.8
0.5
2.6
2007
94
125
0.37
N/A
11.0
14.1
25.7
24.3
0.070
0.055
38.8
N/A
N/A
14.6
0.3
2.9
2006
107
109
0.38
N/A
10.8
15.2
30.6
23.3
0.106
0.044
38.2
N/A
N/A
14.7
0.7
3.1
2005
108
110
0.39
N/A
13.0
16.3
29.7
24.4
0.142
0.056
41.4
N/A
11.0
N/A
0.9
4.1
2004
96
92
0.49
N/A
12.3
20.0
26.0
19.6
0.099
0.013
38.3
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.8
3.7
2003
102
106
0.49
N/A
13.6
19.6
27.1
21.7
0.121
0.044
37.8
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.0
3.7
2002
100
117
0.56
N/A
14.0
21.7
25.2
21.1
0.080
0.022
45.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.4
4.4
2001
100
100
0.57
N/A
14.3
22.4
26.0
20.4
0.069
0.057
46.6
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.0
5.0
2000
109
98
0.78
N/A
14.5
23.8
27.0
20.6
0.092
0.057
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.1
5.5
Natural disasters
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
254.7%
182.4%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
567%
413.3%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
21%
0%
Transportation
Both cities offer public transportation systems. Dallas, with its DART system, and St. Louis, with its Metrolink, provide commuting options for residents and tourists alike.
Transport
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
2
FAA registered aircraft
2
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
56
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Bicycle
0.3%
0.5%
Bus
1.4%
3.7%
Carpooled
10.9%
7.5%
Car alone
83.9%
83.9%
Railroad
0.2%
0.3%
Streetcar
0.1%
0.2%
Subway
0.2%
0.3%
Taxicab
0.1%
0.3%
Walked
1.6%
2.5%
Average travel time to work
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Average
31.5 min
29.4 min
Other means
26.5 min
22.9 min
Public transportation
46 min
42.8 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Average
1.2
1.1
Drove alone
86.8%
91.6%
In 2 person carpool
9%
6.5%
In 3 person carpool
2.6%
1%
In 4 person carpool
0.9%
0.1%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.5%
0.1%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0.7%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate prices in Dallas are generally higher than in St. Louis. However, Dallas offers a broader range of housing options, from high-end luxury apartments to single-family homes.
Neighborhoods
Both cities offer diverse neighborhoods, catering to different lifestyle needs. Dallas has upscale neighborhoods like Highland Park, while St. Louis has charming historic neighborhoods like Soulard.
Houses and residents
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
Houses
591,773
173,493
Average household size (people)
2.6
2.2
Median year apartment built
1987
1943
Length of stay in the house since moving in
13.9 years
14.2 years
Houses occupied
536,008 (90.6%)
139,736 (80.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
229,518 (42.8%)
63,653 (45.6%)
Houses occupied by renters
306,490 (57.2%)
76,083 (54.4%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,403
$923.98
Median monthly housing costs
$1,225
$883
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$574,934
$56,913
Estimated median house or condo value
$267,600
$170,800
Median numbers of rooms
4.6
4.8
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.7
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.1
5.9
Median house price - detached houses
$410,272
$196,007
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$255,160
$166,673
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$230,927
$155,363
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$444,589
$260,843
Median house price - mobile homes
$91,039
$35,054
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$350,045
$272,667
Median house price - All housing units
$402,215
$200,041
Median house age
40
2,021
Renting percentage
55.9%
54.6%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
1,727.6
2,801.7
House value disparities
41.3%
38.7%
Household income disparities
48.2%
48.3%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$103,798
$87,762
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$61,909
$55,824
Housing units without a mortgage
1,309 (1%)
1,236 (2.9%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
3,320 (2.6%)
2,537 (6%)
Housing units with a mortgage
124,846 (99%)
41,018 (97.1%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
204 (0.2%)
188 (0.4%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
5,351 (4.2%)
3,349 (7.9%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
12
10
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
2
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.2%
9.2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
0.9%
5.8%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Dallas
St. Louis
One, detached
41.8%
43.2%
One, attached
4.3%
4.1%
Two
1.5%
14.2%
3 or 4
4.9%
13.5%
5 to 9
7.9%
4.9%
10 to 19
12.1%
2.2%
20 to 49
8.1%
3.8%
50 or more
18.4%
13.5%
Mobile homes
1.0%
0.5%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
43,703
8,126
State government workers
17,325
2,962
Unpaid family workers
754
315
Industries and Occupations
Dallas is a hub for major industries like technology, healthcare, finance, and oil and gas. St. Louis is more focused on service industries, including healthcare and social services, education, and retail trade.
Both cities provide high-quality healthcare facilities. Dallas is home to top-ranked hospitals like UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center. In St. Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital are nationally recognized.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Dallas
St. Louis
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Both cities offer modern infrastructure, with Dallas boasting a more vast skyline. Dallas has seen significant development in recent years, evident in its downtown area. St. Louis, while maintaining its historical architecture, also offers modern amenities.
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Dallas
St. Louis
1999
5,030
0
2000
3,390
0
2001
2,626
0
2002
2,657
0
2003
3,617
1,583
2004
5,460
2,101
2005
7,445
2,853
2006
7,397
3,391
2007
5,056
2,022
2008
2,200
841
2009
1,121
247
Culture and Food
Both cities have rich cultural scenes. Dallas is known for its Tex-Mex and barbecue, arts districts, and music festivals. St. Louis offers a unique mix of Midwestern and Southern culture, with popular dishes like toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake.
Sports Teams
Sports fans will find a home in either city. Dallas is known for the Cowboys (NFL), Mavericks (NBA), and Stars (NHL). St. Louis boasts the Cardinals (MLB) and the Blues (NHL).
Dallas, TX
St. Louis, MO
Dallas, TX and 
St. Louis, MO : 544.6 miles
