Overview
St. Louis anchors Missouri's healthcare infrastructure, home to BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, and Washington University School of Medicine, a nationally recognized academic medical center. It's also where Missouri's one genuine local-tax gotcha applies directly: a 1% city earnings tax on residents, worth factoring in specifically for anyone considering the city proper over its suburbs.
Cost of Living
The St. Louis metro's median single-family home price ran around $325,000 as of May 2026, well below the national average. Kirkwood, the most popular retiree suburb, carries a median home value around $467,000 with a dense, walkable feel; more budget-conscious options exist throughout St. Louis County and St. Charles County.
Neighborhoods
Kirkwood, Clayton, Chesterfield, and Creve Coeur are the consistently safest, most retiree-popular suburbs, combining good infrastructure with strong healthcare proximity. St. Charles offers similarly safe, historic character.
Healthcare Access
Washington University School of Medicine, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, and Mercy Hospital St. Louis give the metro genuine depth — among the strongest concentrations of academic and specialist medicine in this guide's Midwest coverage.
Safety
Statewide Missouri crime rankings run higher than several other Midwest states, but this needs real neighborhood context: Kirkwood, Clayton, Chesterfield, and Creve Coeur all report consistently low crime despite the state's broader reputation. Research the specific suburb rather than the statewide figure.
Climate
Four distinct seasons with real regional variation — St. Louis sits between the more severe winters of northern Missouri and the milder ones further south, plus moderate statewide tornado risk.
Best For
Retirees who want strong academic-medicine access without big-coastal-city costs, and who specifically plan around suburbs like Kirkwood or Clayton rather than the city center's 1% earnings tax.
Sources
See the Missouri state profile for full sourcing on tax treatment and healthcare.