Military working in St Louis, MO, want to live in Belleville,IL: Where do I live that is safe (O'Fallon: rent)

[MLC2008]

I want to live in Belleville, IL due to it being close to the train and the Scott Air Force Base. I am trying to find a safe place to live in Belleville. What area should i stay away from? Thanks for the help. Read on here a couple of really bad things about it. Needs some help. Have to be there in June.

Thanks

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Belleville is generally fine.

I'd suggest posting this in the St. Louis, Missouri forum. I know some people there are very knowledgeable about neighborhoods. It's in the Missouri forum, but it usually deals with all St. Louis metro questions, including Illinois. It might get more attention there.

[Spree]

Try looking in O'Fallon, it's not far at all from Belleville and very convenient to the hwy access, as well as the base. It's a very safe community and resale might be better there.

[bgorrah]

Parts of Belleville are really nice but in the last few years parts of it have become very dangerous. By that I mean car-jacking, house break-ins, rapes, robberies, etc. I live in a small town about 5 miles outside of Belleville and with the Interstate Highway, buses and MetroLink you can get almost anyplace you want. You didn't say if you want to buy a house or rent but I would suggest renting until you find out more about the safe places to live. There are numerous little towns all around Belleville which have no crime or very little to speak of that I'm sure you would like. Good Luck to you.

[LisaSmith]

Try Swansea Illinois, little village so close to Belleville it often gets called Belleville. Also look at Wolf Branch School district, Ofallon and Shiloh Illinois. This area is really safe and best schools in metro east. Belleville gets a bad reputation but Swansea is super nice.

[mark1974]

Originally Posted by LisaSmith

Try Swansea Illinois, little village so close to Belleville it often gets called Belleville. Also look at Wolf Branch School district, Ofallon and Shiloh Illinois. This area is really safe and best schools in metro east. Belleville gets a bad reputation but Swansea is super nice.

Shiloh is really lovely, I like the rural scenery around there. Some of that area has a slight Bavarian feel to it....the Illinois side of Saint Louis is a weird mix of German Catholics and African-Americans

[CellarBelle]

Shiloh, Swansea and O'Fallon are all very nice communities, and they will put you in close proximity to the AFB. If you don't mind a 25/30 minute commute, look at Troy, Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. Good luck!

[ilikeairplanes]

If you reaaaly want to live in Belleville. Stay as far east Bellville as you can afford. West Belleville is a cesspool of filth.