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Living in
Spanish Lake.
Spanish Lake is an unincorporated community in St. Louis County, MO. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Spanish Lake
This unincorporated community in northeastern St. You're looking at a median home value around $135,600 and median rent under $1,100 a month, which means your housing costs won't drain your budget, and the 4.1% unemployment rate suggests steady job availability, though most work will likely require a commute into St. Louis proper (average 23.8 minutes).
Spanish Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+4.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Spanish Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Spanish Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (18.9%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.9%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.4%
of households
Married Couples
26.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% above MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Spanish Lake
In Spanish Lake, rent runs 12% above the MO average, and home values are 41% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,310
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
19.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $148,855 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Spanish Lake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in St. Louis County, which includes Spanish Lake, is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Spanish Lake: St. Louis County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Louis County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Spanish Lake is about 2% of St. Louis County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Spanish Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
St. Louis, MO-IL metro area
Commute24.6 min avg
How Spanish Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Spanish Lake, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 34% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the St. Louis County Police Department, which covers Spanish Lake, runs 34% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
439.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,428.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by St. Louis County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Louis County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Louis County, which includes Spanish Lake, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.8M |
| 2024 | 18 | Tornado | $2.0M |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.6M |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $124,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2018 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Louis County, county-wide
Spanish Lake is about 2% of St. Louis County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality55 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in St. Louis city, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 11 miles from Spanish Lake) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
55
Good Days
125
per year
Moderate Days
232
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: St. Louis city, MO (11 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Spanish Lake has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.0"
Annual Snowfall
16.6"
Hot Days/Year
29
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 2.53" |
| Feb | 44°F | 25°F | 2.52" |
| Mar | 54°F | 35°F | 3.46" |
| Apr | 66°F | 45°F | 4.92" |
| May | 75°F | 56°F | 5.46" |
| Jun | 84°F | 66°F | 3.40" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 3.95" |
| Aug | 86°F | 67°F | 3.30" |
| Sep | 80°F | 60°F | 3.38" |
| Oct | 68°F | 48°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 54°F | 37°F | 3.43" |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 2.59" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Spanish Lake
Uninsured
13.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Spanish Lake's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Christian Hospital Northeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.6 mi away · Saint Louis
Gateway Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Granite City
Alton Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Alton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Spanish Lake
Spanish Lake's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Spanish Lake (within 15 miles)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
11.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 8,750 students · in-state tuition $13,299 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,436 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,267 students · in-state tuition $57,960 · 76% graduate · median earnings $75,998 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 960 students · in-state tuition $7,008 · 29% graduate · median earnings $39,919 (10 yrs after entry)
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
10.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 446 students · 93% graduate · median earnings $82,420 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
10.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 337 students · in-state tuition $33,189 · 72% graduate · median earnings $130,161 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Missouri
13.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 284 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 62% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gateway Arch National Park, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Spanish Lake
Spanish Lake has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
11 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
76 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
77 mi awayCities Near Spanish Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Spanish Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Spanish Lake FAQ
Is Spanish Lake, Missouri affordable?⌄
Spanish Lake's median rent is $1,160/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,920/year. Median home value is $135,600.
Is Spanish Lake, Missouri safe?⌄
Spanish Lake is policed by the St. Louis County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 440 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1429 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Spanish Lake, Missouri?⌄
St. Louis County, which includes Spanish Lake, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Spanish Lake, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Spanish Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,160/month and median household income is $55,920/year. The median home value is $135,600. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Spanish Lake, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Spanish Lake is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from