Moving from West Covina, CA to St. Louis, MO

Moving from West Covina, CA to St. Louis, MO is a 1805 mi cross-country relocation β€” about 31h 18m of driving through 6 states. At this range professional movers, a PODS or U-Pack container, or an auto-transport service are usually on the table. The sections below pull current BEA cost-of-living, Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS, BLS wages, and NOAA climate normals for a side-by-side view.

1805 mi Β· 31h 18m by car Β· MO β†’ OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -16.3% Ξ” -7.1Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1805 mi
Drive time
31h 18m
States
6
Fuel (25 mpg)
72 gal
Route throughMO β†’ OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 40, I 44, US 50
Major cities en routeSpringfield, Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

West CovinaSt. LouisU.S. avg
All items (RPP)113.56695.088100.0
Rents158.58969.921100.0
Goods106.62399.996100.0
Services170.43379.024100.0

Overall prices in St. Louis are 16.3% below West Covina β€” a mid-sized gap that shows up mostly in rent and services.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

West Covina β€” typical home
$852,373
St. Louis β€” typical home
β€”
West Covina β€” typical rent
$2,597/mo

YoY change: West Covina +0.7%, St. Louis β€”. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsWest CovinaSt. Louis
Annual avg temperature65Β°F58Β°F
January avg low43Β°F25Β°F
July avg high90Β°F90Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation14.5"43.9"

St. Louis is 7.1Β°F cooler on the annual average (65.1Β°F vs 58.0Β°F, NOAA 1991–2020).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: POMONA/FAIRPLEX, CA US, ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023West CovinaSt. Louis
Population107,436293,109
Median household income$98,570$55,279
Median age40.136.6
Bachelor's degree or higher21.4%22%
Avg household size3.32.03

Median household income in St. Louis is 16.3% below West Covina ($98,570 vs $55,279, ACS 5-year 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

West Covina MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
St. Louis MSA β€” median wage
$47,490
West Covina MSA β€” employment
6,185,570
St. Louis MSA β€” employment
1,325,480

Top occupations in St. Louis MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 162,150 $43,310
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 119,600 $29,980
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 115,380 $39,330
Sales and Related Occupations 108,510 $35,500
Management Occupations 94,750 $100,940

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Missouri

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Missouri income tax
4.7% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Missouri's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Tornadoes are common April through June β€” identify a safe room or interior space on day one.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Missouri after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to move from West Covina to St. Louis?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1805 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does the job market in St. Louis compare to West Covina?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $47,490 in the St. Louis MSA vs $50,490 in the West Covina MSA, on total employment of 1,325,480 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in West Covina vs St. Louis?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $55,279 in St. Louis vs $98,570 in West Covina β€” a 43.9% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How far is St. Louis, MO from West Covina, CA?

The driving distance is 1805 mi and the route typically takes 31h 18m via I 40 and I 44. The trip crosses 6 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Is St. Louis more expensive than West Covina?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in St. Louis is 16.3% lower than West Covina (95.088 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from West Covina.

City profiles: West Covina, CA Β· St. Louis, MO.

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