St. Louis vs. Detroit
 

The World Series is over -- Cards win!– but who’s the winner of the metro area battle? Which metro area had lower unemployment, higher wages, a better educated populace, more affordable homes, shorter commutes?  

    --Population (2005): St. Louis Missouri/Illinois metropolitan statistical
      area (MSA)- 2,725,336; Detroit-Warren-Livonia MSA  - 4,428,941.
      Winner: Detroit

    --Unemployment rate (August 2006): St. Louis  - 5.3 percent; Detroit  -
       7 percent.
      Winner: St. Louis

    --Median home price (second quarter 2006): St. Louis  - $153,000;
      Detroit  - $155,700.
      Winner: St. Louis

    --Percentage change in home value from second quarter 2005 to second
      quarter 2006: St. Louis - +7.8 percent; Detroit -  -8 percent.
      Winner: St. Louis

    --Percentage of adults ages 25-64 with a bachelor's degree or higher
      (2005): St. Louis  - 16.6 percent; Detroit  - 15.6 percent.
      Winner: St. Louis

    --Median household income (2005): St. Louis  - $48,716; Detroit  -
      $50,787.
      Winner: Detroit

    --Per capita income (2005): St. Louis  - $26,161; Detroit  - $26,606.
      Winner: Detroit

    --Mean travel time to work (2005): St. Louis  - 23.9 minutes; Detroit* -
      24.7 minutes.
      Winner: St. Louis

    --World Series wins: Cardinals - 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946,
      1964, 1967, 1982, 2006; Tigers - 1935, 1945, 1968, 1984
      Winner: St. Louis
 

*Wayne County. Data not available for Detroit.

Sources: US Census Bureau 2005 American Community Survey; Bureau of Labor Statistics Metro Area statistics; Bureau of Economic Analysis; National Association of Realtors.