North County? (St. Louis, Florissant, O'Fallon: for sale, renting, crime)

[21mm397]

I am hoping to move to St Louis area within a few months, I have my second interview tomorrow! I will be working in the St Louis University area. House price is probably my biggest concern, I'm looking for something around $150K, and 1600sq and up. I have a 6 year old daughter who will be starting first grade this fall, so schools are a concern as well.

I've looked at house prices on different sites, and North County, especially Florissant, looks like it might be what I'm looking for, but after reading several messages in this forum, there is a lot of mixed opinion regarding North County. What are some of the problems that people see with this area? Is it a good family area? Is it safe? How is the commute? Any help will be appreciated.
Chuck

[deadliestformula]

I am in Florissant. I LOOOOVE the school my 5yr old is attending (Russell Elementary). It is in the Hazelwood school district and its one of the top rated elementary schools in the district. I also attended Russell (many eons ago). This is a predominately Catholic community. There are many many Catholic Churches in the area. Many of which offer great private schools, as well as good youth sports leagues. The churches have carnivals, fish frys, craft fairs, etc. I have never had anyone talk to me about my personal religious preferences though. And anyone is welcome to attend the fairs etc. Commutes in STL are a funny thing. At their worst they are WAAAYYY better than other cities. But we still find time to complain about them. I would say 40 minutes max once you get your route down. That is the key around here....Knowing what connects to what and how to avoid blockages and construction by going the 'back way'. I love this area. It has plenty of conviences nearby (shopping etc.) and is close enough to the city that you can easily access the zoo, science center, art museum, city museum etc. As far as crime goes.....North county is BIG. There are better areas than others. Stick to the zip code 63031 for florissant. The 63033 is a little worse of a neighborhood. The 63031 is the northern western Florissant near Hazelwood. I have lived in Florissant for the better portion of my life on and off and the only crime I have ever experienced was a stolen car stereo...I frequently leave my car unlocked and that was really my fault (the car was unlocked in a bar parking lot). There is not a big drug problem here, nor are murders, rapes, or even robberies common news. There has been a few things (just 3 days ago there was an armed bank robbery in North County, but it was near Ferguson, in a worse part of it....No one was injured.) But that kind of thing is not often heard of around here.

There are some very nice houses in the area that are in your price range. There is even one across the street from my mom that just went up for sale. It is a beautiful house and is a 3 bdrm 2 bath if I am not mistaken, on a dead end street. decent sized yard, very well maintained (I have known the owners since I was a kid....) The street name is Croftdale Drive if you are interested.

Anything else I can help you with I will be glad to do just let me know....

[21mm397]

Thanks for the info! It really does sound like an area my family and I would enjoy. My wife is Catholic, and my daughter is currently in the Upward Sports program where we live now. Forty minutes is not a bad communte time for me at all, either.
Thanks again!
Chuck

[ajf131]

North County is fine, though it puts you very close to the airport. just make sure you avoid North City to the east. That's one of the bad parts of St. Louis.

[caelestias]

Look up the word "gentrification." St. Louis is in the midst of turning the city into a nice(er) place to live, but North County is becoming much worse. I would rather buy a house in the city, knowing that it will appreciate in value, than in North County where it would likely decrease immsensely in the coming years.

[21mm397]

Thanks for the information everyone. What school disctricts within St. Louis would you recommend? We are also considering renting for six months to a year, any ideas for location? We would need at least 2 bedrooms.

[la_missourienne]

If you are looking at North County, I recommend Hazelwood schools--just stick as West as you can, tends to be better part of the district. I work in Hazelwood West High and love it so far (but haven't been here too long lol). Seriously, I've met many veteran teachers here and they have a good opinion of the school as well. We have a very diverse population, which to me is FAR better than where I was before (school of 99% white small-towners). Best of luck to you and your family!

[21mm397]

Thanks la_missourienne,
Hazelwood was one of the areas I was looking at.

[aminah]

Originally Posted by 21mm397

I am hoping to move to St Louis area within a few months, I have my second interview tomorrow! I will be working in the St Louis University area. House price is probably my biggest concern, I'm looking for something around $150K, and 1600sq and up. I have a 6 year old daughter who will be starting first grade this fall, so schools are a concern as well.

I've looked at house prices on different sites, and North County, especially Florissant, looks like it might be what I'm looking for, but after reading several messages in this forum, there is a lot of mixed opinion regarding North County. What are some of the problems that people see with this area? Is it a good family area? Is it safe? How is the commute? Any help will be appreciated.
Chuck

Florissant has to be one of the WORST places to raise a family, or live. I know because my husband and I just moved away from there. My son was attending the schools, and had nothing but trouble. There are alot of misguided people out there, and it is not safe. We just moved to O'Fallon, Mo. and LOVE it. The school districts are great, and we are happy to be out of North County for good. N.C. has gotten very "ghetto", and there are also gangs forming. STAY AWAY FROM FLORISSANT...FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!

[aminah]

Florissant has to be one of the WORST places to raise a family, or live. I know because my husband and I just moved away from there. My son was attending the schools, and had nothing but trouble. There are alot of misguided people out there, and it is not safe. We just moved to O'Fallon, Mo. and LOVE it. The school districts are great, and we are happy to be out of North County for good. N.C. has gotten very unsafe, and there are also gangs forming. STAY AWAY FROM FLORISSANT...FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!