Anyone live in Chesterfield? (St. Louis, St. Charles: appointed, homes, neighborhoods)

[missy90]

We are moving there in a month and I was wondering if you enjoy living in Chesterfield?

[RickMG]

I live one mile from the Chesterfield line and lived in Chesterfield for almost 20 years. My daughter and ex still live there. My thoughts are it is one of the best areas in the St. Louis area to live. You can pretty much get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time, and have parks and shopping all around you. Great newer neighborhods and the school districts are top rated.

[popthinker]

Native St. Louisan whose parents retired before I reached adulthood.

I got the opportunity to return to St. Louis when I took a new job, and I considered carefully where to move. I looked at homes from the Internet and took the opportunity to drive around a lot when I had a job interview here. (I should mention that I work in St. Charles County, so the lovely reverse commute was one of the determining factors, but my "other half" had no job at the time, so a fairly central location was a must. No South City, for example.)

I wound up moving to Chesterfield, specifically the "old" part of Chesterfield, west of 141, south of Olive, north of Ladue.

Lots to recommend it. Location, location, location. Very easy to get to 270, 40, 70, 44, even 364 up to the other side of St. Charles. Mature neighborhoods, stable community, great infrastructure. Very good schools (though Rockwood has passed Parkway, I'm told).

The area I am in is VERY stable. A surprising number of original owners, there since the late 60s. Which means there are homes going on the market. You do have to look at the homes here carefully, but you really do everywhere. They typically need a little work, but for the most part people have taken good care of things. Very friendly neighborhood, typical of St. Louisans.

I bought into the area because of resale down the line and location. I haven't been disappointed.

[Fishtacos]

Chesterfield is a nice upper middle class community about a 20-30 minutes West of St. Louis, in West County. It is great for families, very good schools, ...not so great for young singles etc...It's out a little bit, but not to a severe extreme. If I worked downtown for example, and lived there, it would be at my limit of a commute of distance for St. Louis vs other bigger cities.

It isn't an older home character type suburb closer to the city. Mostly newer stuff, bigger lots, and bigger homes. It's a popular upper middle class suburb of St. Louis that is outside of 270. If you have kids age 1-17, and you like to be out a little bit, but within city striking distance for visits, etc.. it'll be fine for you.

[missy90]

Thanks so much! Look forward to our move in 3 weeks. This will be a big change for us after living on the west coast for so long. Hope our 22 yr old son will enjoy it. He's going inot business with us.

[Fishtacos]

Your 22 year old son, will probably want to spend his time in the city...not sure if he is living with you, or at least at first...?

Chesterfield isn't a place for a 20 something imo...it is for younger families. He might want to look into ....burbs: U City/Clayton, Brentwood etc...or city areas: Downtown, Central West End, The Grove, Soulard, Lafayette Square etc...and so on....

He'll get bored quickly in Chesterfield. Great for parents and for kids to grow up...out slightly more than my taste, but not bad. Doable. Quiet nice upper middle class family area.

[missy90]

He is going to live with us at first till he gets on his feet financially; so it will work for him for awhile. Are there colleges close by?

[Fishtacos]

Washington University and SLU each border Forest Park(largest city park in U.S.) on opposite ends. These would be a 20 minute hwy ride, but pretty easy...construction etc...going on these days on hwys....but St. Louis compared to bigger places has decent traffic.

Webster University is in Webster, UMSL, to the North of you...others I am not thinking of...etc....

But socially, 20 somethings will congregate in many city neighborhoods, but also close in rim of burbs like U.City, Clayton, Brentwood, ...and also in Maryland Heights area further out.

He'll just have to drive a little bit hwy drive, socially, to be around his peers much of the time. ...which is fine to save money etc...and do all that stuff for a while....

[mel8028]

There are so many colleges near chesterfield, depending on his previous education, there are many great community colleges as well as 4 year universities