St Louis or CHicago?? WHich one is better? (St. Louis, St. Charles: budget, condo)

[anr_black]

Property taxes in IL are more expensive than in MO. Real estate in Chesterfield is VERY expensive also...Plus, that's a pretty big commute from downtown. What type of house are you looking for? (number of bedrooms, age, etc.)

[CellarBelle]

Edwardsville is not industrial. He may be thinking more of Granite City with the Steel Mill or Roxana/Wood River with the refinery. Edwardsville is the County Seat for Madison County and has a lot of legal firms, financial planning companies, small businesses and the university. Definitely check it out. The schools are great! Good luck!

Originally Posted by melindagrooms

Everyones information is so helpful, and its nice to hear everyones opinions!! I think both places must be wonderful cities..but not sure we can afford Chicago...THe MO side seems to be a tad more expensive than the IL side as far as real estate, now I just need to check the taxes....Chesterfield MO, and O'Fallon, IL seem to be the most recommended oh and Edwardsville, IL..my husband seems to think that seemed more industrial though...

[melindagrooms]

Ok so the property taxes are higher in IL...so does either state have a personal property tax? Here in SC we have that we have to pay taxes on vehicles, boats etc... it really sucks!! What about state tax,,both states?
WE are looking for a minimum of 3 bedrooms... our last 2 houses have been brand new in new developed areas, and I really would like a very mature established neigborhood, I would love a older house thats been redone...some character to it....but a neighborhood that I can enjoy walking in, thats pretty on the eyes, lots of trees etc... and that I can play outside with my kids....There is so much to consider it will drive you nuts!! I also do not want my husbands commute to be to long..................

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by CellarBelle

Edwardsville is not industrial. He may be thinking more of Granite City with the Steel Mill or Roxana/Wood River with the refinery. Edwardsville is the County Seat for Madison County and has a lot of legal firms, financial planning companies, small businesses and the university. Definitely check it out. The schools are great! Good luck!

Have only traveled through a couple times, but yes Edwardsville is a nice place [and no, CB is NOT paying me anything to say such ].

City of Edwardsville, Illinois -- Welcome to the City of Edwardsville Web site!

CB - about how long of a commute would there be from somewheres that might be fitting in Edwardsville to his work in StL?

[CellarBelle]

I'll send you a check later ShadowCaver!

Of course, commute times SO depend on traffic. But the most important thing is... we can make it to an evening Blues game in about 30 minutes. 2nd most important, is getting to shopping (I like the Galleria or West County Mall). And for that we are looking at about 35 minutes when you take 270 to 170 (for the Galleria), and 40 minutes to West County Mall when you buzz around 270. And you can hold me to those numbers as I shop up until the last minute before I can get home to get the kids off the bus!

So, for out-of-towners - that translates to (drumroll please...) Edwardsville to Scottrade Center (or AG Edwards) in about 30 minutes. Edwardsville to Galleria (or Boeing), about 35 minutes. Edwardsville to West County Mall about 40 minutes (or Edward Jones campus). These times are all assuming no accidents or serious construction (good luck with that!). So how's that for some commute times? I've covered all the important bases - hockey and shopping.

Originally Posted by ShadowCaver

Have only traveled through a couple times, but yes Edwardsville is a nice place [and no, CB is NOT paying me anything to say such ].

City of Edwardsville, Illinois -- Welcome to the City of Edwardsville Web site!

CB - about how long of a commute would there be from somewheres that might be fitting in Edwardsville to his work in StL?

[CellarBelle]

No personal taxes in IL, but plenty of property taxes. Our housing costs are lower, but our taxes are higher. From what I understand, Missouri does have personal property tax. I think no matter how you dice it and slice it, it all comes out about the same between housing costs, property taxes and personal taxes.

The great thing about Edwardsville is unless you want your children to get a parochial education you really don't have to pay private school tuition. The schools are good and safe, so you don't have to send your kids to private school. That can add up to $$$ over time that is usually more than the difference in taxes.

We have some mature neighborhoods with lots of sidewalks; however, the largest number of homes available tend to be in subdivisions. We are a subdivision family, and as much as I wanted something charming, I really wanted a neighborhood in which my kids can play with the neighbors, ride their bikes and do sidewalk chalk without me having to hover over them. It's been a great fit for us. But, I do love the older neighborhoods and all of their charm.

Where in SC are you Melinda? My sister and Mom live in Greenville and I grew up in NC.

Originally Posted by melindagrooms

Ok so the property taxes are higher in IL...so does either state have a personal property tax? Here in SC we have that we have to pay taxes on vehicles, boats etc... it really sucks!! What about state tax,,both states?
WE are looking for a minimum of 3 bedrooms... our last 2 houses have been brand new in new developed areas, and I really would like a very mature established neigborhood, I would love a older house thats been redone...some character to it....but a neighborhood that I can enjoy walking in, thats pretty on the eyes, lots of trees etc... and that I can play outside with my kids....There is so much to consider it will drive you nuts!! I also do not want my husbands commute to be to long..................

[melindagrooms]

So in a nutshell the schools for the areas we can afford on the MO side are not that good and could possibly require private schools?
I am in Blythewood which is a small town off Columbia......I think Greenville is about 1 1/2 hrs from here. We have been here 2 years and well I am ready to go...originally from Florida....

[Fishtacos]

I've lived in both STL and Chicago.

You are getting some basic info to go on here. I would also point out that everything in life is relative. You post this question in a Chicago forum and probably 100% of the people would say no contest for their city. Someone on here called Chicago fast paced....well, not really....compared to say the East Coast it is down right slow. However, compared to the area you mentioned you have been most previous and to St. Louis Chicago is faster paced.

Both cities are good choices for various reasons, ...any questions, let me know. There are some similarities and differences to them.

[lukeache]

Chicago offers much more than St Louis because it is much larger, but driving in Chicago sucks and the toll roads makes you want to scream. I would choose St Louis because it is smaller and the cost of living is lower, but both cities have some pretty rough areas and a lot of urban decay. I would avoid East Saint Louis, IL, it is a wasteland..one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country. People in St Louis are simpler, much more approachable and the size of the city is just perfect. If you have children, I think you will be happier in St Louie.

[ShadowCaver]

Originally Posted by melindagrooms

So in a nutshell the schools for the areas we can afford on the MO side are not that good and could possibly require private schools?
,,,snip,,,

melinda - I would hazard to guess that you might be misreading CellarBelle's intent . I believe that what she was saying [2nd paragraph of her last post] is that in Edwardsville, the public schools are durn good, that don't have to send critters to private schools - not as a comparison to the MO side.

Fire away a few areas that you are thinking might be interested in [either side, anyplace] and peeps here will let ya know thoughts and suggestions, regarding the schools, etc. Ok?