Our region has:
- More than 970,000 households.
- A median household effective buying income of $38,920 compared to $34,618 in the U.S.
- A population of 2,582,500.
- A total labor force of 1.35 million with a low unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.
Key Regional Facts
Population (1) 2,582,500
Media Market Population (16) 2,957,900
U.S. Population within 500 miles (3) 33%
Number of Households (2) 972,400
Area (square miles) (2) 6,397
Labor force (4) 1,355,687
Unemployment rate (4) 4.10%
High-Tech Work Force (5) 155,616
Total Income (15) $74 billion
Retail Sales (8) $24 billion
Colleges and Universities 12
Cost of Living Index (U.S. = 100)(7) 97.7
Median Household Disposable income as a percent of U.S. (2) 112.40%
Rank Out Of All U.S. Major Metropolitan Areas
Population (1) 18th
Media Market Population (16) 20th
Households (2) 14th
Fortune 500 Corporate Headquarters (8) (tied with Atlanta) 4th
(10 Fortune 500 HQ)
(11 Fortune 2nd 500 HQ)
Cost of Living (7) 3rd lowest
Housing Affordability (9) 16th
Crime Rate (10) 4th lowest
Airport (Flights) (11) 9th
Rail Center (12) 2nd
Inland Port (northernmost ice-free) (18) 2nd largest
Distribution (13) 20th
Manufacturing (13) 16th
Site Selection Magazine’s ranking Economic Development Organizations (20) Top 20
Computerworld Magazine’s ranking of the best regions for information technology jobs (18) 9th
Fortune Magazine’s ranking as place to live and work (14) 6th
Industry Week Magazine’s ranking of top manufacturing communities (19) 10th
Outlook magazine’s ranking of top cities for business expansion or location (17) Among Best in Nation
Sources: (1) American Statistical Association, St. Louis Chapter, 1999. (2) Sales and Management, Survey of Buying Power, 1998. (3) University of Missouri St. Louis, 1990. (4) Missouri Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations, Illinois Dept. of Employment Security, 1999. (5) RCGA based on Missouri Div. Of Labor (1998 estimates) (6) Sales and Marketing Management, 1998. (7) ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 4th quarter 1999. (8) Fortune Magazine, April 26, 1999. (9) E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group, 1998. (10) East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, 1996. (11) Airports Council International, 1997. (12) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1995. (13) Woods and Poole, 1999 MSA Profile. Rankings based on Manufacturing and Wholesale trade earnings of major metropolitan areas. (14) Fortune Magazine, November 11, 1996. (15) Missouri Economic Indicators, College of Business and Public Administration University of Missouri-Columbia, 4th quarter 1997. (16) Nielsen, January 1998. (17) Outlook Magazine, Jan. 1999. (18) Computerworld Magazine, January 11, 1999. (19) Industry Week Magazine, April 5, 1999. (20) Site Selection Magazine, May 1998.
