Washington and St. Charles receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Washington | St. Charles | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,130 | 71,508 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $79,173 | $85,937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,762 | $49,608 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,510/sq mi | 2,836/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $231,800 | $298,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $827 | $1,251 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 43.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 7.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 214 | 283 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.1 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -24.6% | 7.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.8" | 41.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 37 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 23.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 23 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.15 | 12.43 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 43.2% | 48.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 49.4% | 57.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 30.1% | 28.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Washington
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, hail, inland flooding.
St. Charles
Elevated or high exposure: hail, earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Washington, MO · St. Charles, MO · How this is calculated: methodology