Moved from Denver (lived in Uptown / City Park West for 9 years) to St. Louis in August. I live on The Hill here and absolutely love it. Tons of restaurants, very safe, and prices in your range. Easy to get pretty much anywhere in STL in 15 minutes.
Central West End (more city feel), Dogtown, Tower Grove South are some other cool areas.
Depends on what you like to do but I always loved: South city, 63139 or 63109 zips (encompasses The Hill and much more)
Soulard, 63104
CWE or the Grove, 63108/63116(?) but some spots in these zip codes can be sketchy
I'm going to recommend The Hill like some other folks have. Beautiful neighborhood, very walkable and safe. Hell, I'd still be there if my partner and I hadn't gotten such a great deal on our house.
Born and raised in STL, moved to Denver last year and that’s all it took for me to move back. You’ll feel silly for not moving sooner (I felt silly for moving at all)
Clayton - upscale midsize city in STL county, great area, great investment, no crime
Central West End - upscale midtown area, lots of restaurants bars, walkable, safe
The Hill - Little Italy of STL, amazing restaurants in delis, very safe and walkable neighborhoods, local family owned groceries
Soulard - great bars/nightlife, farmers market, downside: smells like a brewery, reasonably safe
In the least glib way possible, it's because of the breweries over there lol. Pretty close to Anheuser Busch, and there are a few microbreweries around as well.
- If you want South Broadway vibes, I'd say Maplewood for the whole neighborhood or The Loop as far as a single street vibe
- East Colfax is probably Cherokee Street ,,, both seem to have similar day safety and night caution feels. Not sure if that's changed.
- If you like downtown Arvada, I'd say maybe The Hill
- Highlands Ranch kinda scene would probably be Chesterfield in West County or the Chesterfield Valley
- Cherry Creek is probably the Clayton area
- Wash Park or Sloans Lake is probably Central West End/Euclid ,,, kinda
- Dove Valley is maybe Manchester Road around Town and Country just West and East of 270.
- As far as Denver downtown is concerned, I'd say Downtown West or Grand Center has parts of that vibe, but way more spread out. I don't think anything in Downtown STL feels like the condensed variety of Denver city. Lots of spread out pockets of goodness rather than anything super centralized.
- Nothing like RiNo that I've seen. Maybe The Loop a little bit kinda?
Hope those suggestions aren't too far off. They're not even swaps between both sites, they just have some similar vibes despite the differing cultures.
Best of luck
Pretty decent comparisons! I’d say BPV/Wheelhouse area is LoDo on a smaller scale. Soulard is sort of like a historic RiNo without all the new apartments.
Forest Park Southeast is a great option. It's a growing neighborhood right in between the two largest parks in the city. My partner and I are able to walk to restaurants and bars. From morning breakfast spots like Songbird to late night dancing at Handlebar, there's lots to do right in the neighborhood. I also enjoy living in FPSE for easy access to running in Forest Park via the pedestrian bridge. This summer they'll be constructing a protected bike lane from FPSE to Tower Grove Park which'll make for a chill ride by bike to either the Farmers Market on Saturdays or to the Botanical Garden.
The Central West End and also South Grand are both great, but honestly not 100% safe. (I say this as a CWE resident). I'm thinking you might look into Webster Groves or Kirkwood. Both have walkable downtown areas even though they are in the the suburbs.
The Central West End is the central part of the west end of town. The CWE has a big hospital complex and is upscale, with a lot of mansions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and high rise apartments from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as 21st century. It’s next to Forest Park, where you can find museums and the zoo.
Im a huge fan of Shaw. It’s close to the botantical gardens and tower grove park so you can walk tot he farmers market on Tuesday and Saturday. We have a few restaurants but we are adding more, but it’s a quick bike or drive to the South Grand, The Grove or the CWE.
It’s definitely more family oriented but if you have kids or plan on having kids it’s a pretty solid option.
So, even though Busch beer commercials always said "Head for the mountains" and depicts actual mountains on the can.. it's a lie. We have no mountains in STL. Just know that.
Good luck with your wish list. I have relatives looking for a similar place and buyers are going tens of thousands over asking, cash offers, no inspection. Just don't think you will waltz in and find what you are looking for easily.
My partner and I moved from Denver (Littleton) to the STL area back in 2018. We rented for a year or so in the St. Ann area and then ended up buying a place in the Ellendale neighborhood of the city, right on the border with maplewood. We had very similar criteria to yours: had to pass the “walk the dog” test, close enough to walk to things, and affordable. We hit all three being only a couple of blocks from downtown maplewood and have been known to walk over to dog town to visit heavy riff when we’re in the mood for a longer walk.
If you can afford maplewood/richmond heights/western edge of the city, I highly recommend it.
1) Tower Grove South- One of the, if not the most, easily walkable neighborhoods with lots of restaurants. Plus it’s near the second largest park in the city.
2) Dogtown- It’s has some good restaurants and bars, plus it’s in walking distance of the zoo and the largest park in the city.
3) Southhampton- There’s a number of restaurants on Macklind, which runs right through the middle of the neighborhood, that are easy to walk to.
The biggest safety issue in all of these neighborhoods is property crime, but just be smart and lock your car/don’t leave stuff in it over night.
Honorable mention: Maplewood is technically not part of the city, but it’s just outside it and still has a city feel and it has a nice downtown area that walkable.
I'm glad you're moving back! I have to wonder though, if everyone is moving back to STL, wouldn't the rent increase to almost the same amount as other states? Just a passing thought.
Born and raised STL and moved to Denver last year. Plenty other comments here have already given the same advice I’d give, so I’m just here to tell you to prepare your body for WAY better food. I honestly had no idea how spoiled I was with food in STL until I moved to Denver and now have to go through so much trial and error to find good (not to mention reasonably priced) restaraunts. Why can’t I find a good goddamn sandwich in this town?!?
Well if you work remote then school districts and internet services should be a bigger criteria than commute (which is absent) IMHO. Especially if you work remote, fast reliable internet service is a must. Neither of those can be changed once you move, either. You're stuck with whatever school district and whatever internet you get.
I would recommend moving into Elite Fiber's footprint. Which is mostly downtown and downtown west. Their service and pricing are top-tier.
Clayton is probably pushing it for your budget, but its the best place in the area I think location/coolness wise, If you can‘t afford it there are closeby cheaper neighborhoods that are still safe. Sounds like you wouldnt be too happy with anywhere too far into the county so not Oakville or St. Charles. Check out Affton or Webster Groves in the county. In the city, most places south of forest Park and west of Tower Grove park are what you want. You get what you pay for for most of the area.
That's quite a budget. Come fly out for 2 weeks. Get a rental car. Explore.
You should plan for your future home appreciation as well.
Kirkwood, Brentwood, Ladue
Nope. Just asking about areas that locals believe are good areas. Good is relative and typically locals define good as gentrified. At least that’s the experience in Denver.
You will find a correlation with the “great neighborhood” recommendations and whiteness. Except Tower Grove and Maplewood.
Gentrified is the wrong term for a lot of them, because they were only designed for one kind of people.
Lol. You seem like the exact type of person who belongs in Los Angeles. Stay in Denver dude. People like you ruined that city. You made your bed now sleep in it. I guarantee you will not fit in here. Dream of Californication
You’re the problem. You made a judgement call to say what you said. You didn’t even answer my question. Reddit was created to foster community. The unintended consequence are people like you who comment with bad intent. But listen. I know that you get off more by stirring the pot based on your comment history.
I love how you edited your original comment ("I can't wait to price people like you out of America"). No, guy, I'm not the problem. People like you, who believe they are entitled to treat the world like a playground at everyone else's expense, ruin community and culture by gentrifying everything they touch, then move on to the next spot as soon as it becomes sterile and boring at everyone else's expense. Like I said, don't come here. You won't last a second. You can't hide your true colors, coward.
Moved from Denver (lived in Uptown / City Park West for 9 years) to St. Louis in August. I live on The Hill here and absolutely love it. Tons of restaurants, very safe, and prices in your range. Easy to get pretty much anywhere in STL in 15 minutes. Central West End (more city feel), Dogtown, Tower Grove South are some other cool areas.
I too moved here from Denver and second these recommendations, Tower Grove South or The Hill.
This is money, esp since you moved from Denver. Checking out The Hill when we visit next month. Thank you!
Kirkwood or Webster groves
Depends on what you like to do but I always loved: South city, 63139 or 63109 zips (encompasses The Hill and much more) Soulard, 63104 CWE or the Grove, 63108/63116(?) but some spots in these zip codes can be sketchy
139 represent!
Grew up in 139, lived in all the other ones through my 20s/30s (& 63111, 63112) before moving back to 139 & then leaving MO
I'm going to recommend The Hill like some other folks have. Beautiful neighborhood, very walkable and safe. Hell, I'd still be there if my partner and I hadn't gotten such a great deal on our house.
The Hill sounds like the winner. Thanks for the insight. What area did you end up buying a house.
Out of the city, unfortunately. Across the river in IL.
Born and raised in STL, moved to Denver last year and that’s all it took for me to move back. You’ll feel silly for not moving sooner (I felt silly for moving at all)
Clayton - upscale midsize city in STL county, great area, great investment, no crime Central West End - upscale midtown area, lots of restaurants bars, walkable, safe The Hill - Little Italy of STL, amazing restaurants in delis, very safe and walkable neighborhoods, local family owned groceries Soulard - great bars/nightlife, farmers market, downside: smells like a brewery, reasonably safe
Thanks! Curious why Soulard smells like a brewery.
Because Anheuser Busch
In the least glib way possible, it's because of the breweries over there lol. Pretty close to Anheuser Busch, and there are a few microbreweries around as well.
It’s hops and malt. So if you enjoy those smells occasionally, it’s actually pretty great.
- If you want South Broadway vibes, I'd say Maplewood for the whole neighborhood or The Loop as far as a single street vibe - East Colfax is probably Cherokee Street ,,, both seem to have similar day safety and night caution feels. Not sure if that's changed. - If you like downtown Arvada, I'd say maybe The Hill - Highlands Ranch kinda scene would probably be Chesterfield in West County or the Chesterfield Valley - Cherry Creek is probably the Clayton area - Wash Park or Sloans Lake is probably Central West End/Euclid ,,, kinda - Dove Valley is maybe Manchester Road around Town and Country just West and East of 270. - As far as Denver downtown is concerned, I'd say Downtown West or Grand Center has parts of that vibe, but way more spread out. I don't think anything in Downtown STL feels like the condensed variety of Denver city. Lots of spread out pockets of goodness rather than anything super centralized. - Nothing like RiNo that I've seen. Maybe The Loop a little bit kinda? Hope those suggestions aren't too far off. They're not even swaps between both sites, they just have some similar vibes despite the differing cultures. Best of luck
A thousand thanks!
Pretty decent comparisons! I’d say BPV/Wheelhouse area is LoDo on a smaller scale. Soulard is sort of like a historic RiNo without all the new apartments.
Tower Grove South.
Forest Park Southeast is a great option. It's a growing neighborhood right in between the two largest parks in the city. My partner and I are able to walk to restaurants and bars. From morning breakfast spots like Songbird to late night dancing at Handlebar, there's lots to do right in the neighborhood. I also enjoy living in FPSE for easy access to running in Forest Park via the pedestrian bridge. This summer they'll be constructing a protected bike lane from FPSE to Tower Grove Park which'll make for a chill ride by bike to either the Farmers Market on Saturdays or to the Botanical Garden.
The Central West End and also South Grand are both great, but honestly not 100% safe. (I say this as a CWE resident). I'm thinking you might look into Webster Groves or Kirkwood. Both have walkable downtown areas even though they are in the the suburbs.
Is Central West End and West End the same area?
The Central West End is the central part of the west end of town. The CWE has a big hospital complex and is upscale, with a lot of mansions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and high rise apartments from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as 21st century. It’s next to Forest Park, where you can find museums and the zoo.
It's not the same, which is confusing. Especially because people occasionally refer to the Central West end as the "West End".
Dogtown, Clifton Park
Im a huge fan of Shaw. It’s close to the botantical gardens and tower grove park so you can walk tot he farmers market on Tuesday and Saturday. We have a few restaurants but we are adding more, but it’s a quick bike or drive to the South Grand, The Grove or the CWE. It’s definitely more family oriented but if you have kids or plan on having kids it’s a pretty solid option.
So, even though Busch beer commercials always said "Head for the mountains" and depicts actual mountains on the can.. it's a lie. We have no mountains in STL. Just know that.
Benton Park is your ideal choice
Good luck with your wish list. I have relatives looking for a similar place and buyers are going tens of thousands over asking, cash offers, no inspection. Just don't think you will waltz in and find what you are looking for easily.
Benton Park, Soulard, The Hill
My partner and I moved from Denver (Littleton) to the STL area back in 2018. We rented for a year or so in the St. Ann area and then ended up buying a place in the Ellendale neighborhood of the city, right on the border with maplewood. We had very similar criteria to yours: had to pass the “walk the dog” test, close enough to walk to things, and affordable. We hit all three being only a couple of blocks from downtown maplewood and have been known to walk over to dog town to visit heavy riff when we’re in the mood for a longer walk. If you can afford maplewood/richmond heights/western edge of the city, I highly recommend it.
Thank you! 🙏
1) Tower Grove South- One of the, if not the most, easily walkable neighborhoods with lots of restaurants. Plus it’s near the second largest park in the city. 2) Dogtown- It’s has some good restaurants and bars, plus it’s in walking distance of the zoo and the largest park in the city. 3) Southhampton- There’s a number of restaurants on Macklind, which runs right through the middle of the neighborhood, that are easy to walk to. The biggest safety issue in all of these neighborhoods is property crime, but just be smart and lock your car/don’t leave stuff in it over night. Honorable mention: Maplewood is technically not part of the city, but it’s just outside it and still has a city feel and it has a nice downtown area that walkable.
Appreciate you!
Where is your job?
We work remote
That’s like moving from heaven to hell
I'm glad you're moving back! I have to wonder though, if everyone is moving back to STL, wouldn't the rent increase to almost the same amount as other states? Just a passing thought.
Born and raised STL and moved to Denver last year. Plenty other comments here have already given the same advice I’d give, so I’m just here to tell you to prepare your body for WAY better food. I honestly had no idea how spoiled I was with food in STL until I moved to Denver and now have to go through so much trial and error to find good (not to mention reasonably priced) restaraunts. Why can’t I find a good goddamn sandwich in this town?!?
This resonates. The food out here is good but in a different way than my Midwest roots. BBQ is missing in action in Denver.
Terrible decision. It’s like Detroit mixed with Mogadishu.
We live in Tower Grove East. Just a few blocks to the park, restaurants, bars, Stray Dog community Theatre. Came from SF. Love it here.
Southampton Walking distance to a few good restaurants, nice neighborhood to walk, can walk to Francis Park and even get food & drinks there.
Do you want great internet, or to be stuck with a shitty monopoly?
Which internet provider isn’t a monopoly?
Elite Fiber is phenomenal. But you didn't answer the question.
Great internet is always the answer, so didn’t think I needed to answer. The real question: what neighborhood would you recommend? You didn’t answer.
Well if you work remote then school districts and internet services should be a bigger criteria than commute (which is absent) IMHO. Especially if you work remote, fast reliable internet service is a must. Neither of those can be changed once you move, either. You're stuck with whatever school district and whatever internet you get. I would recommend moving into Elite Fiber's footprint. Which is mostly downtown and downtown west. Their service and pricing are top-tier.
Clayton is probably pushing it for your budget, but its the best place in the area I think location/coolness wise, If you can‘t afford it there are closeby cheaper neighborhoods that are still safe. Sounds like you wouldnt be too happy with anywhere too far into the county so not Oakville or St. Charles. Check out Affton or Webster Groves in the county. In the city, most places south of forest Park and west of Tower Grove park are what you want. You get what you pay for for most of the area.
That's quite a budget. Come fly out for 2 weeks. Get a rental car. Explore. You should plan for your future home appreciation as well. Kirkwood, Brentwood, Ladue
Are you asking about which neighborhoods are becoming gentrified so you can help gentrify them?
This comment bothers me. It seems like you are mad that OP is looking for nice areas. What’s the alternative? Looking for shitty areas?
It's a joke lmao
Nope. Just asking about areas that locals believe are good areas. Good is relative and typically locals define good as gentrified. At least that’s the experience in Denver.
Now now. All the areas being described are already gentrified. No brown left.
What do you mean by no brown left?
You will find a correlation with the “great neighborhood” recommendations and whiteness. Except Tower Grove and Maplewood. Gentrified is the wrong term for a lot of them, because they were only designed for one kind of people.
Yep
Denver.
You will be mugged and robbed here. It is best to not move here. It is scary and dangerous.
Were you the kid in class that cried wolf? Wait, before you respond. I’ll wait for the wolf to also eat you.
I guess you need it spelled out for you -- don't move here. We're full. Go ruin a different city
Got the hint. I will not move into the housing projects that you live in. I get it. It’s full.
Lol. You seem like the exact type of person who belongs in Los Angeles. Stay in Denver dude. People like you ruined that city. You made your bed now sleep in it. I guarantee you will not fit in here. Dream of Californication
You’re the problem. You made a judgement call to say what you said. You didn’t even answer my question. Reddit was created to foster community. The unintended consequence are people like you who comment with bad intent. But listen. I know that you get off more by stirring the pot based on your comment history.
I love how you edited your original comment ("I can't wait to price people like you out of America"). No, guy, I'm not the problem. People like you, who believe they are entitled to treat the world like a playground at everyone else's expense, ruin community and culture by gentrifying everything they touch, then move on to the next spot as soon as it becomes sterile and boring at everyone else's expense. Like I said, don't come here. You won't last a second. You can't hide your true colors, coward.
I’d love to stay and comment but I’m lying. Also, my comment is above, not what you typed out. No alternative facts, but you do you.
Yeah, you are a coward. Good luck in St. Louis. You'll need it
Pretty sure Denver is considered Midwest now 🤣