What it's like to live in University City
University City is a small city in Missouri with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. University City deals with cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold winters
How University City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to University City
Based on University City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,638
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,760 a year
- 42% of University City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$61,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,670
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,319/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,319 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $306,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $306,700 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
319 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1625/100k · University City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% 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▲ 80% above US
65% 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 10 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 Gateway Arch National Park (8 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
University City's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoff is cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,319/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals.
See all the data for University City →·All Missouri cities →
Other places near University City
All Missouri guides →Moving to Clayton →
1 mi away · pop. 17,380
Rent $1,692/mo · Income $123,000
Compare with University City →Moving to Overland →
3 mi away · pop. 15,695
Rent $1,112/mo · Income $61,773
Compare with University City →Moving to St. Louis →
5 mi away · pop. 288,512
Rent $997/mo · Income $56,160
Compare with University City →Moving to St. Ann →
5 mi away · pop. 12,811
Rent $976/mo · Income $52,323
Compare with University City →Not sure University City is the one?
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