6 Factors for Deciding Where to Live in St. Louis

Figuring out where to live in St. Louis can be complicated, especially for newcomers. It might be hard for some to wrap their head around the fact that the city itself is small (with a population of about 280,000), but has 79 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own name and vibe. 

The agents at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties are experts at helping newcomers navigate this sometimes confusing slice of the Midwest. Luckily, there’s an abundant range of housing options to fit every lifestyle. That’s why deciding where to live in St. Louis is less about the actual address, and more about a buyer’s unique wants and needs. 

Here’s a list of 6 things to consider when looking for a home to assist in your home buying journey. Knowing what you like, dislike, and what your priorities are will narrow down the hunt for the perfect house in the perfect location for you and your family. 

Square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is only part of the picture. Another question to ask yourself is what type of home can you picture yourself living in? Whether you dream of living in a newly constructed suburban neighborhood, a cozy brick bungalow, a sprawling mid-century ranch, or a historic Victorian, St. Louis has it all. 

For example, communities of new construction are popping up all over St. Charles County, South County, in Missouri and Madison County, in Illinois. These houses are often larger and offer bigger yards. Meanwhile, there are large older homes in Lafayette Square, Central West End, and Webster Groves for those wanting something stately and historic, often with stained glass windows and ornate woodwork. 

If you’re looking for bungalows and “gingerbread” style Tudor revivals, try looking in Princeton Heights, Holly Hills, and St. Louis Hills. These cute houses are close to bustling city areas, but still offer some nice quiet streets and (usually smaller) yards.

Another unique, but historical, type of home can be found in the Soulard and Benton Park areas. These tall, narrower brick houses are two or three story rectangular homes. They often end right at the sidewalk, really making you feel like you’re a part of the city–and you don’t have to find parking if you want to go to Mardi Gras.

And if you’re more of a condo type of person, St. Louis has condos scattered across the region, in more suburban areas, trendy urban areas, or downtown.

Do you want an urban cityscape where you can walk to dinner and a show? A neighborhood feel where the children get together and play while the adults are having barbecues? Or a big stretch of land where you can barely see the next house? The St. Louis region has a wider variety of options than you might expect.

any parts of the city and its neighboring communities are walkable. There are also buses and the Metrolink train system to help city-dwellers get around.

Some of the more walkable city areas include:

• Central West End - You can easily walk to lots of restaurants and bars or take a stroll through nearby Forest Park. It’s also right next to some of St. Louis’s biggest employers, Washington University Medical School and Barnes-Jewish hospital.

• University City (U-City) - Home to Washington University’s main campus and The Loop, which is packed with lots of restaurants, shops, bars, and things to do.

• Tower Grove - This area is a bit more laid back, but you’ll still find a lot of restaurants and bars on the Grand Avenue strip and there’s the lovely Tower Grove Park, which boasts a regular farmer’s market and a lot of big events, like the Festival of Nations.

• Clayton - often considered the “fancier” part of the city. Here, you’ll find lots of shopping, nice houses, and corporate offices. Certain parts are quite walkable, with shops, cafes, and restaurants, but others consist of sprawling mansion neighborhoods or business parks.

Sprinkled through the outskirts of St. Louis are suburban towns with lots of amenities for children, such as larger yards, basketball courts and pools. Check out Olivette, Kirkwood, and Oakville in Missouri. In Illinois, Columbia and Edwardsville are popular neighborhoods to raise families. 

Within a reasonably short drive from St. Louis, it’s also possible to live “out in the country.” Rural areas with lots of wide open space can be found in:

• Wildwood and Chesterfield - These are considered some of the higher end areas, but these homes tend to have lots of green space in the surrounding area.

• Jefferson County - In this southern part of the area, you’ll find varying degrees of rural homes. Areas like Arnold and Imperial are a bit closer to the city but feel much more like a small town, and the further south you go, the more spread out things get.

• St. Charles County - you’ll find a much more spread out feeling here, along with bigger yards and more green, but still with access to plenty of shopping, things to do, and a big university.

• Shiloh and Highland, Illinois - as you go east into Illinois, yards get a little bigger and neighborhoods get a little more spread out (and affordable). In particular, places like Shiloh and Highland are quite rural and good for farmers.

What are your family’s interests and recreational pursuits? Someone who loves weekend shopping excursions might consider Richmond Heights with the nearby St. Louis Galleria or trendy consignment shops and antique stores scattered throughout the city. 

For those who can’t wait to hit the bike trails, the famous Katy Trail passes right through St. Charles and Earth City. On the other side of the Mississippi, the Madison County Bike Trail loops through Edwardsville and Glen Carbon.

A home near Forest Park, Tower Grove Park, or the Botanical Gardens will provide beautiful green spaces within the city, and lots of cultural events year round, like Shakespeare in the park at Forest Park or the Japanese Festival at the Botanical Gardens. Or, if museums and zoos are more your thing, Forest Park has a few of those too.

The city and surrounding area have plentiful opportunities for culture, theater, sports, and recreation. St. Louis has everything that any major city has, but often within easier reach for its residents than larger metropolitan locations.

Since work is one of the most common reasons for someone to relocate, newcomers might assume that the question of where to live in St. Louis depends on their job’s location. It’s actually not as big a concern here as it might be in other parts of the country. 

Unlike places like Los Angeles, where people can spend hours commuting, traffic is usually not nearly as bad in St. Louis. Rush hour traffic does happen, especially along the main arteries like I-170 and I-64/40, but with a little planning, rush hour will seem relatively tame in most parts of the city and suburbs

Downtown St. Louis is situated such that a drive across the river to O’Fallon, Illinois is actually shorter than the trip to Chesterfield, Missouri. Depending on an individual’s tolerance for time spent in the car, they do not need to feel limited in their choices of where to live.

For example, Boeing and Barnes-Jewish are two of the biggest employers in St. Louis and both of their main campuses are located in the Clayton/Central West End area. If you live in Webster Groves, the drive there only takes about 15-20 minutes. If you live in South County, the drive will be around 20-40 minutes, depending on traffic. 

Obviously, there are a lot of factors at play, but in many cases, it won’t take more than 45 minutes to get anywhere else within St. Louis–and often it is much less.

Relocating with kids has the added challenge of considering schools. Just like understanding the preferences for house styles and communities, people need to decide what type of school environment is best for their children.

In our article Explaining St. Louis Schools, we break down the different types of public and private educational institutions in the region so you can find the best option for your child. You can also browse through reviews and ratings on websites like Niche.

St. Louis is home to a variety of schools, both public and private. Both public district schools and charter schools are tuition free, but charter schools are independent from the St. Louis Public School (SLPS) system. Meanwhile, public magnet or choice schools are tuition-free schools run by the SLPS, but have a specific focus or theme, like the arts, or gifted students. Private schools may be either independent or private.

St. Louis is experiencing the seller’s market just like the rest of the country. But compared to elsewhere, it is still refreshingly affordable. According to U.S. News and World Report, the national average home value was $370,489 in 2024, while the median home value in St. Louis was $197,774.

Some of the more affordable areas include:

• Dutchtown, with a median price of $150,000
• Maplewood and Richmond Heights, priced on average at $230,000
• Lindenwood Park and Princeton Heights, with average prices around $250,000
• Rock Hill, priced from $270,000

For homes between $300,000 and $400,000, you might try Ballwin, Ellisville, Eureka, Fenton, Oakville, and St. Charles. Higher budget homes can generally be found in Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Chesterfield, and Clayton. 

The region as a whole offers everything from very affordable small homes to extravagant luxury homes. You will find our article How Much House Can You Afford in St. Louis? helpful in determining where your budget places you on the scale.

Buying a house is a big decision. By taking some time to consider all of the above factors, it will be easier to figure out where you and your family will be happiest in the St. Louis region.

At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties, we know every corner of the Greater St. Louis region. We have agents representing the city, neighboring counties, and Metro East Illinois. We even have a department of relocation specialists. 

No matter where in St. Louis you settle, welcome home. We know you’re going to love it here!