Single mother going to college, looking for safe neighborhood (St. Louis: low income, apartment complex)

[nicole10.30]

I am a single mother looking to find an apartment around St. Louis. I have a young toddler so I am really trying to find a safe neighborhood. I'm not familiar with the "inner suburbs" or whatever they are called of the area, so any information is appreciated. While searching for an apartment, it is quite overwhelming with all the options. I have heard that Maryland Heights is pretty nice.
Once I narrow it down, I will start to search for an apartment. If it helps, I am looking for a 2 bedroom no more than $750 a month.

[FrankMiller]

Certain areas north of Delmar-ish in the city are a bit unsafe, but you can also find safe places practically anywhere in the metro area. Do you have any other desires? Urban vs suburban, walkability vs drivability, proximity to malls or nightclubs or coffee shops, favorite food ethnicity, etc?

[flynavyj]

If you're looking for suburban - Maryland Heights is a nice location with lots of apartments and good highway access. I'm not sure how much any of those units costs, but have had friends who've lived there, most were in their 20's and recent college grads just getting started with their first job.

As I said, the area has quick highway access, quick access to Creve Coeur Park & Lake, and the community center has a small water park called Aquaport which isn't a bad place to hang out in the summer time.

I'm not a huge fan of the apartments that were left in Bridgeton after the airport expansion. When the neighborhood was still around, the apartments were acceptable, but after the city lost many of it's residents to the expansion and the neighborhood that helped stabilize that community vanished, the quality of residents in the apartments seemed to decrease.

The apartments in St. Ann are typically for very low income individuals, with the exception of Cypress Village, I don't really think my city offers any "good" apartment options; affordable homes in a safe neighborhood...yes...apartments "eh...not so much".

If looking in the city, there are pockets to avoid...but instead of apartment buildings, finding a two or four family flat might become an option.

[flynavyj]

Originally Posted by FrankMiller

Certain areas north of Delmar-ish in the city are a bit unsafe, but you can also find safe places practically anywhere in the metro area. Do you have any other desires? Urban vs suburban, walkability vs drivability, proximity to malls or nightclubs or coffee shops, favorite food ethnicity, etc?

BTW - I feel that what was written here is a bit of an understatement. Many areas North of Delmar in the City of St. Louis are inherently unsafe. Certain areas North of Delmar are somewhat safe, would have been a more accurate representation (IMHO).

In the same way I would say South St. Louis City has "bad pockets" i'd be willing to say that North St. Louis City has "good pockets". Neither is inclusively bad, but each one leans further in one direction than the other, and it's possible to find both good and bad in either.

[FrankMiller]

One other point is that Maryland Heights is not an "inner" suburb. It's very much an outer 'burb.

[glamatomic]

I used to live in an apartment complex in Maryland Heights and loved it! Zero safety issues! I would definitely agree with starting my search there, you should be able to find what you're looking for within budget

Even for an outer suburb it's not far to downtown. It used to take me 25 mins or so

[TX dude]

I lived at The Pavillion in Maryland Heights years ago. It seems like you could be anywhere in town within a half an hour.