WASH U Grad Student movin to STL (St. Louis, Maryland Heights: apartment, rental)

[ray_parlour]

I will be a grad student next fall at Washington U (WUSTL) and will be moving to Saint Louis from Philly. Because I have experienced the good and bad parts of Philly, I do have some reservations about living in another city like Saint Louis.

I'm currently single, so school district will not be a factor, but I would like to know which neighborhoods will be good to live in St. Louis as long as it meets these criteria:

1. Nothing more than 20 minutes from WUSTL driving.

2. Preferably not a densely populated area (I am used to the country, so free space is important.)

3. Monthly rent about 500 give or take.

Any advise would be appreciated.

[CoffeeAndBeer]

You will be staring at tail lights if you want a cheap, countryside rental say in Lincoln County or Illinois. Certainly nothing within 20 minutes of Wash U. St. Louis isn't Philly, but it's not Indianapolis either.

South St. Louis City meets 2 of the 3 criteria, with not much traffic being all surface streets. The Ozarks with clear spring fed rivers are an easy weekend escape on 2 easily accessible interstates from South City, if that means anything. St. Louis might seem like Philly Lite (Philly and New Orleans helped build St. Louis), so if you are trying to find something totally new, you may not like it here.

[wustu87]

A lot depends on your definition of "densely populated". #1 and #3 are not too difficult, but to be within 20 minutes of Wash U means a suburban apartment at best, so hopefully that would be enough "free space" for you. Your 20 minute requirement also makes it easier to find a rental for $500 or under, since those are not so easy to find very close to campus, and anything nearby is definitely fairly densely populated. Would a suburb like Maryland Heights or Shrewsbury be "free space" enough for you, or do you really mean like way out in the country?

[ray_parlour]

surburbia is fine.

I havent committed to Saint Louis yet, but I do have a very enticing offer to Notre Dame.

Where would Md heights or shrewsbury be relative to wash u, and is there metrolink

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by ray_parlour

surburbia is fine.

I havent committed to Saint Louis yet, but I do have a very enticing offer to Notre Dame.

Where would Md heights or shrewsbury be relative to wash u, and is there metrolink

Shrewsbury is Southwest, stone's throw from city limits, older, compact housing. Close to Metrolink is yes.

Parts of Maryland Heights is/are closer to your description of what you were seeking, and within your 20 minute or so drving range.