Possible Relocation to St. Louis from Noo Yawk (insurance, rankings)

[illini84]

Yes, I was just reading about future public transit plans on the Metrolink website. They are planning some major new extensions, but they'll be 5-10 years off. That seems like a long ways away, but 5 years is actually a relatively aggressive timeline for a project this big. Regardless, it's exciting to see progress.

I lived in St. Louis back in 2007, then relocated to Miami and a couple of mid-sized cities in Illinois. For what my two cents is worth, I always loved St. Louis and am trying to get back there. I'm actually in the final interview stage for a real estate analyst opening, so I guess I can speak firsthand about there being some real estate-related jobs out there. St. Louis is a cheap city, with rents being low. There are always a ton of free things to do (concerts on the riverfront, the zoo, etc.). There's just something about the city that draws you in. It's not a particularly "nice" city--it's not shiny and new--and actually looks a bit run down, but it's absolutely full of local gems and character!

I'd second what the others said about crime. I never had any issues while I was there, but had some friends who had some issues with non-violent crimes (mostly car break-ins). Of course, they'd left a laptop or wallet lying in the seat or something. Coming from New York, I'm sure you have basic street smarts, so I wouldn't worry. The Central West End is a very nice area with lots to walk to, so I can't imagine you would get bored there very quickly. The CWE is one of the most (if not the most) expensive neighborhoods in the city, but I'm sure you'll think $1K for a 1 bedroom is cheap.

[Dawn10am]

I personally really like the gritty charm about the city. That's the number one complaint I here from native St. Louisans is that "everything is old," and then compare the city to Dallas, Atlanta, etc., where everything is shiny and brand-new. No thanks, I'll take the long built-up character of an old city any day.

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by Dawn10am

I personally really like the gritty charm about the city. That's the number one complaint I here from native St. Louisans is that "everything is old," and then compare the city to Dallas, Atlanta, etc., where everything is shiny and brand-new. No thanks, I'll take the long built-up character of an old city any day.

That's pretty much what makes me like the Midwest over the South. Cities like St. Louis, Detroit, Milwaukee and Cleveland may be run down, but are rich in history and culture. The biggest changes I'd recommend to somebody moving from NYC to STL is to be prepared to use the car to get around, expect a slower pace, but also I'd say expect a bit friendlier of an atmosphere.

[Dawn10am]

Now don't get me wrong, there are plenty of gritty cities in the South. My hometown, Memphis, is pretty darn gritty, but in a different way than St. Louis: gritty as in "dirty" rather than gritty as in "charming." St. Louis is way cleaner than most Southern cities outside of Atlanta and Dallas. Memphis, Jackson, and Birmingham are downright filthy.

[Smtchll]

Originally Posted by Dawn10am

I personally really like the gritty charm about the city. That's the number one complaint I here from native St. Louisans is that "everything is old," and then compare the city to Dallas, Atlanta, etc., where everything is shiny and brand-new. No thanks, I'll take the long built-up character of an old city any day.

But there's something for everyone in St. Louis because if you want shiny & brand-new, you could just go to Downtown Clayton. It's about as polished as it gets.

[CoffeeAndBeer]

That is true, it's weird watching 40 something dressed up businessmen walk home from downtown Clayton during rushhour, there's nowhere else I really see that in the midwest (or really much in the entire interior/Texas) outside of Chicago and the Twin Cities. Clayton is actually becoming very urban minded.

[AndLiNY]

Originally Posted by stlouisan

That's pretty much what makes me like the Midwest over the South. Cities like St. Louis, Detroit, Milwaukee and Cleveland may be run down, but are rich in history and culture. The biggest changes I'd recommend to somebody moving from NYC to STL is to be prepared to use the car to get around, expect a slower pace, but also I'd say expect a bit friendlier of an atmosphere.

The concept of needing to drive is so foreign to me but realistically it is something that I willing to accept!

[stlouisan]

Originally Posted by AndLiNY

The concept of needing to drive is so foreign to me but realistically it is something that I willing to accept!

Yeah..we have the Metrolink, but it's not nearly as effective and centralized of a system as the subway...it skirts the city limits, but large swaths of the city are far away from it. The Metrolink is good for getting from Downtown Clayton to Downtown St. Louis, and from Downtown St. Louis to the airport...you could use it to get to the Illinois side, have no idea why you'd want to go over there though other than casinos. It also takes MUCH longer on average than taking a car.

I personally am not a fan of the Metrolink at all.

[Dawn10am]

I love the MetroLink. It's not the largest system in the world, but it's great for a city of this size. It's new, clean, and safe. I'm quite a fan.

[AndLiNY]

Well, whenever I've left New York to visit family in North Carolina, driving didn't really seem like such a hassle. I'm just used to the New York driving scene, which is not only a waste of time due to the traffic jams but it's also pretty frightening. People are insane.

I'm sure driving isn't such a daunting task in St. Louis, though!