The Illinois-side of St. Louis

[jojojohnson76]

Fairview Heights, Shiloh, O'Fallon are 3 great small cities that are all a 15-20 minute drive to downtown St. Louis. I'm not sure what the person meant when they said it depends on if you want to live a big city life or a little town life, because, in my humble opinion, most decent-sized Illinois suburbs are better than most decent-sized Missouri suburbs.

If you live in O'Fallon or Fairview Heights, it's like living in a city of 50,000, bordering another city of 50,000 (Belleville). Fairview Heights, O'Fallon, and Shiloh have a combined population of around (or a little over) 50k, and they all run right together.

Another thing was somebody said something about a historic home...well, that depends on where you are. In Belleville you can buy very old brick homes that have a nice urban design. In Chesterfield, or Creve Coeur, or most of those other OUTER-RING Missouri suburbs are full of the cookie cutter Mcmansion subdivisions. Not to say you don't find those in Illinois too, because you do, it just seems that some M issouri suburbs are built with nothing but new-construction McMansions.

[jojojohnson76]

^^ Another thing I should add is, there is no such thing as a "bad neighborhood" in O'Fallon, Shiloh, or Fairview Heights. Belleville can be sketchy in places but there are very nice areas of it as well.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by jojojohnson76

In Chesterfield, or Creve Coeur, or most of those other OUTER-RING Missouri suburbs are full of the cookie cutter Mcmansion subdivisions.

Creve Couer is full of older construction... Chesterfield's older areas are too.

[jojojohnson76]

I guess I'm going to need help finding those in Creve Coeur? Then again, I work there, but I don't plan on making any weekend trips on purpose to CC.

[aragx6]

Drive along Mason road near Bellrieve cemetery. My mother grew up there in these adorable 60s style ranches and two stories on big lots and beautiful mature trees.

[Auxvasse148]

Edwardsville is definately the best place to live in Metro-East St. Louis. Belleville, Fairview Heights, and the Scott AFB area just seems a little too city like. The best places are northern Collinsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon/Edwardsville, and Wood River/Alton. Any school is good in the Edwardsville Area. It's part of District 7, which everyone seems to think positively of. I don't know much of the cost of living, as I am only 16.

[linicx]

In my humble opinion, homeschooling iis facr superior to public schools regardless of where you live. Missouri recognizes this and embraces it. Illinois real estate taxes are higher but grocery taxes are one percent and we don't pay personal property tax as in Missouri. Illinois is one of the best FEMA Homeland Security models in the United States. Barnes Jewish at St. Louis is the only midwest hospital that is consistenttly ranked in the top 25 hospitals in the United States. Illinois also has some very stringent health laws regarding restaurants, motels, hospitals, nursing homes and other public places. .

Both states flood on occassion which makes traveling from St. Louis to IL tricky at times. As a whole, Illinois has more metropolitan areas (100,000 pop) that are not mega cities like Chicago, a 12.000 year history, more scenic areas for photo opportunities, larger state parks and more of them and more family events. ,

[jtjmom]

My two cents, after being in the area about a year now, is Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Fairview Heights/O'Fallon, and Collinsville. We personally chose Granite City, because I am very staunchly against living above my means. Plus, Grantie City is an old industrial town, with the main industry here being the steel mill, and that really made me feel at home when we left our town of 8000 people in central IL. Lots to do, everything within driving distance or metro ride, and the people I've come into contact with are very nice. You do kind of have to be careful where you drive, though... lol GC itself isn't too bad, but there are some pretty questionable ares between here and St. Louis. Collinsville was our first choice, though... just couldn't afford it. Good luck!

~D

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by jtjmom

My two cents, after being in the area about a year now, is Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Fairview Heights/O'Fallon, and Collinsville. We personally chose Granite City, because I am very staunchly against living above my means. Plus, Grantie City is an old industrial town, with the main industry here being the steel mill, and that really made me feel at home when we left our town of 8000 people in central IL. Lots to do, everything within driving distance or metro ride, and the people I've come into contact with are very nice. You do kind of have to be careful where you drive, though... lol GC itself isn't too bad, but there are some pretty questionable ares between here and St. Louis. Collinsville was our first choice, though... just couldn't afford it. Good luck!

~D

Unfortunately, you are one of the few that are moving into granite. As a former resident of Granite, i'm glad to hear you enjoy it.