Inexpensive and Safe areas to live in St. Louis

[tktk]

South county - Affton, Lindbergh, Mehlville school districts fit your needs. The schools are all good and it is safe and family oriented. The parochial schools are outstanding also. My relative teaches at a parochial school in Mehlville. You can find smaller, reasonably priced properties (check out a major realtor's website and you can explore) - but there's a mix and more expensive properties are also there so it helps the value of your less expensive property. I think that the trouble with North County is that it is so close to North City. That is the drive by, murder, high crime, etc. part of the Metro area of St. Louis along with East St. Louis, Illinois. If you border a high crime area, it spills over. Criminals don't turn around at the city border. I would be afraid in most North County areas especially walking or at night.

[deadliestformula]

I think that the trouble with North County is that it is so close to North City. That is the drive by, murder, high crime, etc. part of the Metro area of St. Louis along with East St. Louis, Illinois. If you border a high crime area, it spills over. Criminals don't turn around at the city border. I would be afraid in most North County areas especially walking or at night.

The thing to remember about North County is that it's bigger than you think. There are some areas of North County that are not so great. But for all the areas that are 'near' North City, just as many are 'near' St. Charles.....



As you can see, North County encompasses many 'cities'. Including..Maryland Heights, St. Ann, Overland, Bridgeton, Berkely, Breckenridge Hills, St. John, Kinloch, Hazelwood, Florissant, Ferguson, Jennings, Bellefountaine Neighbors, Spanish Lake, Moline Acres, Black Jack, Unincorporated St. Louis County, Bridgeton, and many more......The best areas are those north of 270, and west of 367. Many of those areas are very nice. Those would be Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, Hazelwood, Florissant, and parts of unincorporated St. Louis County. The parts that are in the middle.....would be those south of 270, north of Page Ave. and west of 170. Including, St. Ann, Overland, Breckenridge hills, Etc. Towns south of 270 and east of 170 are next.....Berkely, Ferguson, Dellwood, Jennings, as well as Bellefountain Neighbors, Spanish lake etc.. THe worst parts of North County are indeed the ones that along the blue border on the map that is on the southeastern side......The ones that actually border up on the City of St. Louis....and the ones that the Metro link runs thru.....

As for a little bit of a distance guide.....I am at the junction of 270 and 370 in Hazelwood/Florissant....It takes me at least 20 minutes to get to my sister's house in Overland (at page and 170) and 30 minutes to get to Bellefountaine Neighbors....

Yes gangs and crime don't turn around at city borders.....but 30 minutes is a bit of a trip for most......

[Parkland1]

Hi! I actually don't live in St. Louis anymore, but I lived there for 10 years (up until last year). There are some great areas there. Affordability may be an issue though. I use dto teach in the Clayton school district which is excellent. Other good areas include Brentwood, Affton, Maplewood, Hazelwood. Someone mentioned Florrisant. I have to tell you that as a teacher I wouldn't send kids to the Florrisant schools. There are some rough ones so you have to be careful. Just don't do the City. City of St. Louis schools are pretty awful, but suburb schools are good. Good luck!

[RonnaBR]

Originally Posted by Charming Billy

We're re-relocating to STL. I've got some ideas about where we want to live but I'd appreciate any suggestions of areas that are good for a family of four on a modest budget. For starters, I don't know much about North County. It always looked OK to me and I heard people are starting to move there again because St. Charles County is so expensive and far away.

Hi Billy, my name is Ronna and my family (of four )just relo from DC. Just to give you my initial impression---we have been here about a month. St. Louis is as expensive as DC suburbs! We live in West county and I cannot believe the prices on the homes. We chose West county for the public schools. I know lots of people do St. Charles----but if you are working downtown the commute will be a nightmare. NO public transport or HOV lanes as in the East Coast. Also, the realtors and mortgage brokers are predicting a housing bubble burst in 12- 18 months. Right now nothing is moving in the market---we are renting for a year.

[migrating]

Hi rollagirl,
I live in Pacific and really like the location, Eureka is also nice along with the other locations you mentioned. The drive out here has the best scenery I have seen in St. Louis and the cost of housing is very reasonable. It is off of 44 which makes for an easy commute to St. Louis. Traveling on 44 puts you around 15 minutes to 270. I have also met many people who live here and work in the Chesterfield area. They take 109 and are there easily. 109 also lets off on Manchester which leads to all of the Wildwood, Ballwin, Ellisville locations pretty quickly. Good luck with your search.