Moving to The Lou? The Local's Guide to the Best Suburbs in St. Louis, MO
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Affton
Affton provides an established, close-knit community that is much closer to downtown St. Louis. Driving downtown typically takes about 20 minutes in good traffic. With this prime location, residents can enjoy the sense of community that comes with the suburbs while also being within reach of city amenities.
The suburb is within the Affton School District. Affton holds a respectable B grade from Niche. The district receives high marks for teachers, college prep, and has an impressive student-to-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. Affton has a favorable cost of living when compared to the other suburbs. This is particularly true for median house costs and median rents, making it a great place to save money and live frugally.
Most residents in Affton commute for work, accessing major industries that are available in the greater metro area. According to indeed, the biggest employers in the Saint Louis area are Anheuser-Busch InBev, BJC Healthcare, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Centene, and Edward Jones.
Sappington
Sappington is an unincorporated community in St. Louis County. It is the ideal place for those who value a quiet residential area with a focus on community and education. Students are served by the Lindberg School District, which holds an A grade from Niche and is ranked as the 20th best district in Missouri. Academics, teachers, college prep, and after-school programs all receive high praise in this school district. The student-teacher ratio is an impressive 16 to 1.
Sappington has a cost of living that is comparable to the rest of St Louis County. There is a good mix of housing options, making it easier to purchase a home on a tight budget. As such, the homeownership rate in Sappington is high. The median home value is a touch high, but with the mix of options, most homebuyers can find something within their budget.
Sappington is predominantly a residential community. As such, most residents commute for work. However, this suburb is only about a 20-minute drive to downtown, making it accessible to high-paying jobs. Most employees in Sappington work in retail or the service industry that caters to local residents.
Fenton
If you love walking in parks and want a short commute to work, Fenton is the suburb for you. Fenton is well known for its extensive park system, making it a fantastic suburb for those who love the great outdoors.Fenton is predominantly covered by the prestigious Rockwood School District. According to Niche, this is the third-best district in the whole state and holds an impressive A+ grade. Academics, teachers, after-school programs, college prep, and the administration are all highly reviewed at Rockwood.
Fenton is slightly further from the downtown area and will take about a 30-minute drive in good traffic. However, this distance makes Fenton slightly more affordable than other options on the list. Unlike the other suburbs, residents in Fenton can find high-paying jobs without needing to commute very far. Fenton is a major manufacturing location, providing good jobs in skilled trades, distribution, and logistics. Additionally, there are several corporate offices in Fenton.
Creve Coeur
Creve Coeur is probably the most affluent suburb on this list. It is the perfect place to call home for those who seek a high-end lifestyle in a beautiful neighborhood. Most of Creve Coeur is covered by the highly acclaimed Ladue School District. Niche ranks Laude as the number one school district in Missouri and has impeccable ratings in just about every category.
While Creve Coeur is beautiful, it is not the place for the frugally minded. It is one of the most expensive suburbs in St. Louis and even has a higher cost of living than the national average. Though expensive, Creve Coeur does offer high-paying jobs, making it a good place for those who like short commutes. According to the city's website, residents can find competitive salaries with Bayer, Mercy Hospital, Thomson Reuters, and several IT consulting firms with international clients.
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