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My wife and I are coming to visit St Louis this Thursday-Saturday to get a feel for the more western suburban areas (staying at a hotel in Chesterfield), as I have a potential job offer in Hazelwood that would require my relocation from Louisville.
I've been to downtown St. Louis a few times for concerts at the old Rocket Bar, and what's now called Firebird, but other than the Bud tour (not a fan of the beer, but enjoy the tour nonetheless), I really haven't been impressed with St Louis proper.
Much of the thread that talks about the negatives of living in St Louis have been my experience as well, getting a red light ticket for a right turn red arrow into a park that's already been closed for the night when the other lights were green was a prime example of my frustration with the civic attitude. I was seemingly intentionally food poisoned by workers at a downtown Imo's Pizza, as the rest of my friends all got sick at the same time (never happened before or since), and the issues with crime, that, while I haven't personally experienced in my time there, I have noticed how creepy/desolate/run down some of the areas can be which are typically right next to an active block of diverse nightlife. Doesn't seem to mix well. My experience with Cincy gives me the feel that Cincy is just slightly nicer than St Louis, and I'm not a fan of Cincy either. They seem to both have racial tension issues that Louisville just doesn't have as much of.
My wife and I live in a suburban area in Louisville and while it's not the highest on the socio-economic scale (homes in the $180k range here, which is considered cheap - stats show Louisville home prices are 50% higher than STL), the neighborhood we live in is quite safe. We left San Francisco to escape the gang/crime issues (surprise surprise, as much as people say the media doesn't give St Louis a fare shake, it does the opposite for SF for some reason). There were break-ins on our street in the decent area of town just south of Haight Ashbury, gang shootings on my route to work in the Hayes Valley area, and very aggressive homeless that took swings at my wife on more than one occasion, and she's not the inciting type.
So, this poses a concern for me. I'm not incredibly fond of what I know of St Louis proper, but perhaps we'd be fine in a safer suburban area. However, we're the renting type. I don't like the idea of buying a house when I move somewhere initially - but it seems that renting a house costs a LOT more than buying. We currently rent a new-ish (built in the late 90s) 3 br 1700 sq ft house in Louisville with a finished basement for $1,200 a month, but we both currently work from home. Ideally I'd like to stay around that same ballpark in size but could rent a townhome or something instead if it got into our budget at a similar size. I just really want something with a basement - growing up and living in the Midwest, I'm conditioned after seeing enough green skies to not live in a slab home.
Any neighborhoods fit the bill? We are both moderate politically and while we don't really do the church thing, neither of us mind being in areas dominated by conservative/church-types. I wouldn't see us going into the city often, but we do travel a lot, so we'd need something that wouldn't be terribly far from the airport.
Check out St Charles County out I-70. Easier to get to Hazelwood.
Mae
That is one spot to look at. Definitely an easier commute and a nice, middle class area, safe, with good schools. BUT...when I think of areas in St. Louis that might have racial tensions...I'd consider that about St. Charles county..
Also along 270, the unincorporated part of St. Louis between Creve Coeur (zip 63146) and Maryland Heights as well as Maryland Heights itself will get you something closer to that price range. If you have children the Parkway North school district covers that area. Pattonville also covers that area and is a fine school district but definitely a step down from the Parkway district. The traffic heading north of 270 is not bad at all. Going south from say...Olive is horrific, but north from there, not so much.
You'll find that most of Central and West County will probably not get you in that range. Most of the houses will be bigger and more expensive. It's a desirable area and the schools are all very very good...so prices are higher in those areas. There are parts of South County that could get you those prices, but that commute would stink.
Everything in STL has a basement If you found a slab home it would be an absolute anomaly...but perhaps they exist? I've never seen one.
I hope that you find that things here are better than you expect them to be anyway We have great museums, an awesome zoo, an awesome botanical garden, an awesome symphony, great theaters, places to hike and bike, a great variety of restaurants, a great baseball experience, and hockey (the most exciting sport to watch IMO), people love to watch SLU basketball too. There is a lot of great stuff to do here
My wife and I are coming to visit St Louis this Thursday-Saturday to get a feel for the more western suburban areas (staying at a hotel in Chesterfield), as I have a potential job offer in Hazelwood that would require my relocation from Louisville.
I've been to downtown St. Louis a few times for concerts at the old Rocket Bar, and what's now called Firebird, but other than the Bud tour (not a fan of the beer, but enjoy the tour nonetheless), I really haven't been impressed with St Louis proper.
Much of the thread that talks about the negatives of living in St Louis have been my experience as well, getting a red light ticket for a right turn red arrow into a park that's already been closed for the night when the other lights were green was a prime example of my frustration with the civic attitude. I was seemingly intentionally food poisoned by workers at a downtown Imo's Pizza, as the rest of my friends all got sick at the same time (never happened before or since), and the issues with crime, that, while I haven't personally experienced in my time there, I have noticed how creepy/desolate/run down some of the areas can be which are typically right next to an active block of diverse nightlife. Doesn't seem to mix well. My experience with Cincy gives me the feel that Cincy is just slightly nicer than St Louis, and I'm not a fan of Cincy either. They seem to both have racial tension issues that Louisville just doesn't have as much of.
My wife and I live in a suburban area in Louisville and while it's not the highest on the socio-economic scale (homes in the $180k range here, which is considered cheap - stats show Louisville home prices are 50% higher than STL), the neighborhood we live in is quite safe. We left San Francisco to escape the gang/crime issues (surprise surprise, as much as people say the media doesn't give St Louis a fare shake, it does the opposite for SF for some reason). There were break-ins on our street in the decent area of town just south of Haight Ashbury, gang shootings on my route to work in the Hayes Valley area, and very aggressive homeless that took swings at my wife on more than one occasion, and she's not the inciting type.
So, this poses a concern for me. I'm not incredibly fond of what I know of St Louis proper, but perhaps we'd be fine in a safer suburban area. However, we're the renting type. I don't like the idea of buying a house when I move somewhere initially - but it seems that renting a house costs a LOT more than buying. We currently rent a new-ish (built in the late 90s) 3 br 1700 sq ft house in Louisville with a finished basement for $1,200 a month, but we both currently work from home. Ideally I'd like to stay around that same ballpark in size but could rent a townhome or something instead if it got into our budget at a similar size. I just really want something with a basement - growing up and living in the Midwest, I'm conditioned after seeing enough green skies to not live in a slab home.
Any neighborhoods fit the bill? We are both moderate politically and while we don't really do the church thing, neither of us mind being in areas dominated by conservative/church-types. I wouldn't see us going into the city often, but we do travel a lot, so we'd need something that wouldn't be terribly far from the airport.
I first saw this article discussed in the Kansas City forum, but it lists safest cities in Missouri and the top 8 or so are all suburbs of St. Louis.
That is one spot to look at. Definitely an easier commute and a nice, middle class area, safe, with good schools. BUT...when I think of areas in St. Louis that might have racial tensions...I'd consider that about St. Charles county..
Also along 270, the unincorporated part of St. Louis between Creve Coeur (zip 63146) and Maryland Heights as well as Maryland Heights itself will get you something closer to that price range. If you have children the Parkway North school district covers that area. Pattonville also covers that area and is a fine school district but definitely a step down from the Parkway district. The traffic heading north of 270 is not bad at all. Going south from say...Olive is horrific, but north from there, not so much.
You'll find that most of Central and West County will probably not get you in that range. Most of the houses will be bigger and more expensive. It's a desirable area and the schools are all very very good...so prices are higher in those areas. There are parts of South County that could get you those prices, but that commute would stink.
Everything in STL has a basement If you found a slab home it would be an absolute anomaly...but perhaps they exist? I've never seen one.
I hope that you find that things here are better than you expect them to be anyway We have great museums, an awesome zoo, an awesome botanical garden, an awesome symphony, great theaters, places to hike and bike, a great variety of restaurants, a great baseball experience, and hockey (the most exciting sport to watch IMO), people love to watch SLU basketball too. There is a lot of great stuff to do here
St.Charles County is an area you foresee racial tensions? I don't get that at all - its overwhelmingly white.
There are some slabs in St. Louis County - a friend owned a post WWII brick ranch in Creve Coeur that was a slab home.
St.Charles County is an area you foresee racial tensions? I don't get that at all - its overwhelmingly white.
There are some slabs in St. Louis County - a friend owned a post WWII brick ranch in Creve Coeur that was a slab home.
St. Charles County is overwhelmingly white for a reason. It's not an open-minded, accepting sort of area. It's an area that quite recently flipped out about black kids coming in from failing school districts. Growing fast and likely to change, perhaps, but I wouldn't pick it right now myself. I sort of hope that opinion of mine is wrong though fwiw.
St. Charles County is overwhelmingly white for a reason. It's not an open-minded, accepting sort of area. It's an area that quite recently flipped out about black kids coming in from failing school districts. Growing fast and likely to change, perhaps, but I wouldn't pick it right now myself.
Oh, you think all 385,000 plus residents are white biggots. You should have said so.
I don't see a lot of racial tension in areas that are predominately all of the same race.
You see it more in places like North County with rapidly changing demographics.
Oh, you think all 385,000 plus residents are white biggots. You should have said so.
I don't see a lot of racial tension in areas that are predominately all of the same race.
You see it more in places like North County with rapidly changing demographics.
I've experienced it more the other way around. North County is fine. There are areas in Hazelwood, Florissant and even Ferguson where Blacks and Whites live in well established neighborhoods and not think anything of it.
Racial tension in St Louis is like any place. It comes from a very ignorant class of people who swear they are superior to other groups. It is much easier to live out their ideals in an area like O'Fallon thats 90% one race instead of Ferguson that is only 60% one race.
Otoh, it isn't fair to label a community as racist just because... I know of some who live in St Charles County who don't have a racist bone in their body.
OP, if you find yourself moving to St. Louis, I hope you find enjoyment in living here. If you are sensitive to the racial climate in St Louis, you would be pleased to know that we have well established communities that are safe where people get along just like or even moreso than the Louisville area. I would not recommend any community for you that is over 70% one race.
If you have read any of my posts previously you will know I am not a huge fan of SL at all. With that being said, I would certainly pick the St. Charles area if you do not plan on coming into the city, work in Hazelwood and need to get the the airport frequently.
My husband's job brought us here for a third time, so I understand that sometimes you end up in cities you really don't like. West County and St. Charles County seem to fit what you are looking for, however. West County might be a tougher commute, though.
Good luck to you both!
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If you found a slab home it would be an absolute anomaly...but perhaps they exist? I've never seen one. 
