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Living in
University City.
About
Life in University City
Living in University City means embracing a genuinely urban lifestyle within the St. Louis metro area. The median home value hovers around $307,000 with rents averaging $1,319 monthly, making it moderately priced compared to many inner suburbs, though gentrification pressures exist.
University City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Foreign-Born
10.4%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in University City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In University City, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (29.7%), and 3.8% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
17.3%
of residents
65 and Older
17.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.2%
of households
Married Couples
37.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.10
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 28% above MO average
Rent, home values, and income in University City
In University City, rent runs 28% above the MO average, and home values are 33% above the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,640
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1949
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $269,128 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MO average
Unemployment in University City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in University City is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What University City 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
Commute21.5 min avg
How University City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In University City, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in University City is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
319.2
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,625.3
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
University City Police Department
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 University City, 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
University City is about 3% 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 5 miles from University City) 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 (5 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
University City has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.9"
Annual Snowfall
16.6"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
79
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 25°F | 2.71" |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 2.28" |
| Mar | 56°F | 38°F | 3.61" |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 4.83" |
| May | 77°F | 59°F | 4.90" |
| Jun | 86°F | 67°F | 4.74" |
| Jul | 90°F | 72°F | 4.21" |
| Aug | 89°F | 70°F | 3.75" |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 3.41" |
| Oct | 70°F | 50°F | 3.20" |
| Nov | 56°F | 39°F | 3.69" |
| Dec | 45°F | 30°F | 2.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in University City
Uninsured
4.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside University City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - St Louis
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Saint Louis
St Louis Childrens Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Saint Louis
Barnes Jewish Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Saint Louis
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.
Education11.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in University City
University City's student/teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 64.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near University City (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,267 students · in-state tuition $57,960 · 76% graduate · median earnings $75,998 (10 yrs after entry)
Maryville University of Saint Louis
9.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,658 students · in-state tuition $27,166 · 61% graduate · median earnings $67,386 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,624 students · in-state tuition $22,794 · 56% graduate · median earnings $58,321 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,304 students · in-state tuition $32,690 · 55% graduate · median earnings $56,096 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,488 students · in-state tuition $36,084 · 56% graduate · median earnings $49,360 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 960 students · in-state tuition $7,008 · 29% graduate · median earnings $39,919 (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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for University City
University City has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway Arch National Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
8 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
50 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
79 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
86 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in University City
University City Public Library
6701 Delmar Blvd, University City
Cities Near University City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to University City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
University City FAQ
Is University City, Missouri affordable?⌄
University City's median rent is $1,319/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $80,694/year. Median home value is $306,700.
Is University City, Missouri safe?⌄
University City's violent crime rate was 319 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1625 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in University City, Missouri?⌄
University City has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in University City, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in University City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,319/month and median household income is $80,694/year. The median home value is $306,700. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in University City, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in University City is 22 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