What it's like to live in Kirkwood
Kirkwood is a small city in Missouri with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kirkwood deals with home prices well above the national average and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Cold winters
How Kirkwood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kirkwood
Based on Kirkwood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,696
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,920 a year
- 49% of Kirkwood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$90,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,140
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,348/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,348 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $451,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $451,400 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 55% below US
147 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1313/100k · Kirkwood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 89% above US
68% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below 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 Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (4 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Kirkwood's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,348/mo) equals 13% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Kirkwood
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