What it's like to live in Ferguson
Ferguson is a small city in Missouri with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Ferguson deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Ferguson compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ferguson
Based on Ferguson's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,238
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,760 a year
- 61% of Ferguson renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$21,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $10,990
- Homes cost 2.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 21% below US
$1,119/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,119 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $109,900. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $109,900 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in St. Louis County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
St. Louis County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 230% above US
1087 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3468/100k · Ferguson Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% take public transit; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 41% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gateway Arch National Park (10 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ferguson's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,119/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Ferguson
All Missouri guides →Not sure Ferguson is the one?
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