Moving from Detroit to St. Louis?
Detroit to St. Louis — MI 6.65% to MO 5.95% saves $700/yr, housing 161% pricier — auto → Boeing Defense + GM STL.
- 530 mi Distance
- 8 hr Drive time
- -161% lower Home prices
- $700/yr Tax savings on $100K
Detroit-to-St. Louis is auto → Boeing Defense + GM STL move. MI 6.65% → MO 5.95% saves $700/yr. Housing 161% MORE ($90K → $235K), COL 6% lower. Pull: Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production, GM Wentzville Assembly Plant (Detroit auto bridge), Washington University medical (top NIH funding), Anheuser-Busch HQ.
Why people move from Detroit to St. Louis.
- Boeing Defense — F-18, F-15EX, MQ-25 production
- GM Wentzville Assembly Plant — Detroit auto direct bridge
- Washington University medical — top NIH-funded research
- Anheuser-Busch HQ + Edward Jones
- BJC HealthCare + Mercy networks
- Detroit auto → Boeing Defense or GM STL direct bridge
- Cardinals + Blues sports passion
- MetroLink light rail + walkable urban
The money side of MI → MO.
Detroit
- Median home$90,000
- Income tax4.25% MI + 2.4% Detroit (~6.65%)
- Cost index89
St. Louis
- Median home$235,000
- Income tax4.95% MO + 1% STL (~5.95%)
- Cost index84
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of St. Louis, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Forest Park — 1,300 acres (50% larger than Central Park) with FREE zoo, art museum, history museum, science center
- Missouri Botanical Garden — 1859 garden; Climatron, Japanese Garden, 79 acres
Culture & Arts
- Gateway Arch National Park — 630-ft Eero Saarinen arch (1965); newest US national park
- Saint Louis Art Museum (free) — Free admission in Forest Park; encyclopedic collection
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour — Free Clydesdale stable + tour; iconic brewery since 1852
- Busch Stadium (Cardinals) — MLB Cardinals; 11 World Series titles (most NL)
- The Hill (Italian district) — Italian neighborhood — birthplace of toasted ravioli
- Cahokia Mounds (15 min E in IL) — UNESCO World Heritage; pre-Columbian mound city
Family-Friendly
- St. Louis Zoo (free) — Top-ranked US zoo — admission is free
- City Museum — 10-story repurposed shoe factory turned playground; rooftop ferris wheel
St. Louis's essential restaurants.
The dining list every St. Louis resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Niche / Sidney Street Cafe Modern American Benton Park
Gerard Craft (James Beard winner)
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Pastaria Italian Clayton
Gerard Craft — wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta
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Pappy's Smokehouse BBQ Midtown
Memphis-style ribs; cult favorite
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Bogart's Smokehouse BBQ Soulard
Pappy's offshoot; brisket and burnt ends
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Imo's Pizza St. Louis pizza Multiple
Cracker-thin crust, Provel cheese — STL-style icon
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Charlie Gitto's Italian The Hill
Original toasted ravioli inventor (allegedly)
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Kingside Diner Diner Multiple
Classic American breakfast/diner
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Vicia Modern vegetable-forward Central West End
Michael + Tara Gallina; James Beard nominees
Best St. Louis neighborhoods for Detroit transplants.
Mapped to the Detroit neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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Central West End
If Corktown was your scene — walkable urban, restaurants
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Soulard
If Midtown was your vibe — historic, walkable, breweries
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The Hill
If you wanted Italian/foodie — walkable, charming
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Clayton (suburb)
If Birmingham was your model — affluent, top schools, walkable
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Webster Groves (suburb)
If Royal Oak was your scene — historic, top schools
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Kirkwood (suburb)
If you wanted family — top schools, walkable downtown
What daily life feels like in St. Louis.
Climate
Humid continental. Hot, humid summers (68-89°F). Cold winters (25-43°F) with 17 inches snow. Spring tornado/storm risk. 41 inches rainfall, 202 sun days.
- Summer68-89°F
- Winter25-43°F
- Sun days/yr202
- Rainfall41 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score64/100
- Transit Score47/100
- Bike Score52/100
St. Louis is somewhat walkable in central neighborhoods, car-dependent in suburbs.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Forest Park — 1,300 acres with free zoo, museums, golf, lakes
- Missouri Botanical Garden — 79 acres
- Tower Grove Park — 289 acres Victorian park
- Mississippi Riverfront — Gateway Arch grounds and beyond
- Castlewood State Park (30 min west) — bluffs, hiking, mountain biking
- Forest Park bike paths and Trolley Trail
What changes about your daily life.
- MI 6.65% becomes MO 5.95% — saves $700/year on $100K
- Housing 161% MORE expensive — $90K Detroit becomes $235K STL
- COL 6% lower
- Climate similar humid continental
- Property tax MO 1.0% lower than MI 1.4%
- Car-dependent both
- Detroit GM auto → GM Wentzville STL direct internal transfer
- Sports — gain Cardinals/Blues, lose Tigers/Lions/Pistons
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 530 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$3,500-$6,500
- Container/PODS$2,500-$4,200
- DIY (26-ft truck)$1,800-$3,200
- Best monthsApr-Oct
- Lead time4-6 weeks ahead
USDOT-registered.
Moving from Detroit to St. Louis: FAQ.
Detroit GM to GM Wentzville?
Direct internal transfer. GM Wentzville Assembly Plant builds vans + mid-size trucks. Detroit GM engineers transition to STL plant common.
Worth 2.6x housing?
For Boeing/GM career + Wash U Med + tax savings, often yes. Detroit $90K homes exceptionally low; STL still affordable.
Let's find the right interstate mover for your Detroit-to-St. Louis move.
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