SperlingViews - St._Louis, Missouri

Each city has 'pros' and 'cons' and St. Louis is one who has variances in each direction, but in different areas I have never experienced before. About me, I have lived and worked throughout the world. I have lived and worked in countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. I carry professional certifications for my industry as well as advanced level degrees from a variety of international institutions. Pros: a) Conservative - very "educated middle class" and and somewhat 'Right Wing' b) Safe - Everyone watches out for each other. The best example is the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Championship parade; no violence, no burned cars; I am a Cardinals fan just because of the Cardinals fans. c) Clean - the people here even pick up their own trash after concerts and even put their shopping carts up after they finish shopping, etc. I am originally from Atlanta, and the city is going to the dogs - filth everywhere. The people here appear to care about their city and surroundings. d) Cost of Living - the overall cost of living is attractive e) Job availability - if you are seeking a professional, upper middle income profession, this is the city. St. Louis is starved for talent and if you have any outside (outside St. Louis) training and/or experience you would be "heads-above" all your peers. Cons: a) "Where did you go to school?" - Once I explain this, as an outsider, you will learn why this question is not only rude and intentionally insulting. The locals do not care about where you went to college nor your professional certifications, they only care about where you went to High School. Yes, they judge you on where you went to High School and establish your social status upon this juvenile slice of information. Essentially, you can carry an MBA from Harvard or Oxford but if you didn't go to "their" upper class high school, then you are of little value. Also, they "incorporate" that High School environment/roles in the work place (think about it). b) Stagnant - Very few people here in business have either traveled, studied or experienced business abroad. And when they hire someone who has, you are immediately perceived as a threat to everyone else. Be very careful when you tout your education, training and experience - it could lead to an adverse work environment. c) "Good 'ole boys" - Being from the deep south I have to expect this, even in NYC they hire and promote based on friends, family and "Good 'ole boys". However, if you didn't go to a St. Louis High School, then you are not a "Good 'ole boy" and do not expect advancement unless you have "Top Cover" in your work place. d) Housing - this city is backwards in relation to housing/homes and their prices. I have lived or worked all over the world and in St. Louis they price a $400k home for what I have paid $110k in other cities. These homes are what I would call "Home Depot" homes, they are built with what you would find a Home Depot. Very little high quality material and extremely overpriced. I actually had dinner and drinks with a general contractor about this issue, he willingly admitted he left building in other cities to build here because the people pay high prices for mediocre work and material. e) Baseball Heaven - NYC may be the center of the baseball universe, but St. Louis is the mecca of baseball. Why is this a "con"? Easy, you are going to spend a lot of money going to very amazing baseball games with your family and friends. Very kid friendly so expect to pay out for the hats, balls, bats, etc. ;-) Enjoy! [read more...]

We live in South City. St. Louis City is ten times better than most of St. Louis County.[read more...]

I've lived in many places throughout the US and the St Louis area is definately towards the bottom of the list. Horrible hot and humid summers, gloomy chilly wet winters, constant winds, tornados, very high crime, and no where to escape. The lack of recreational opportunities may account for the high drug and alcoholism rates. [read more...]

St. Louis has many beautiful parks located right in the center of the city. Forest park is my favorite.[read more...]

Came for job that didn't pan out. Now feeling displaced. Even if we could afford to move... where do we go?[read more...]

We've been living in St. Louis for 4 years now. My husband attends Logan College of Chiropractic. This is a beautiful place to live. The sun shines most of the year. When it rains, it really pours, but then its over and the sun comes right back out. The summers are unbearably humid, and in the winter that moisture in the air turns to ice and nips at your bones. Tornado season is pretty scary, esp this last one. Entire houses were taken out just down the street from us and there was damage to our house as well. This is a great place for hiking and camping, if you don't mind pulling out ticks. There are A LOT of bugs in Missouri! There is a very high crime rate in certain areas, so check your area online before deciding where to move to. We are in Maryland Heights and its been a nice place to live. On a more personal note, I don't like living here. It is hard to make friends, people aren't too friendly, and I feel like the whole area just has a negitive energy to it. Some people really love it here though![read more...]

I grew up in St. Louis and never really lived there as an adult but wanted to give my input as I've lived in a number of different places. The cost of housing is very low and there are a wide range of communities in both the city and county so there should be a neighborhood to fit most everyone’s preference. Traffic is not bad (can you say traffic is “good”?) and there is a fairly extensive light rail system. There are lots of cultural and leisure attractions, many located in the large Forest Park and many (zoo, science center, botanical “Shaw’s” garden, and most museums) are free. The zoo and symphony are considered among the best in the county. There are many good Italian restaurants with unique specialties such as toasted ravioli and (very) thin crust pizza. Nightlife areas include Laclede’s Landing, Washington Ave, Soulard, CWE, the Loop and more “decadent” activities can be partaken in across the river in Illinois (the only reason to go to the “East Side”). There are good state parks and lake activities (Lake of the Ozarks) 2-3 hours away and you can take Amtrak to Chicago. Civic pride is strong and centered on the Cardinals and Anheuser-Busch (although since AB sold out that might have changed). St. Louis is very Catholic and the most important thing for St. Louisans is where you went to high school – there are more private schools per capita than anywhere else (so I’ve heard) and many families have attended the same high school for several generations (whether public or private). The main sports for kids are soccer, baseball, and hockey. There wasn’t a lot of racial/ethnic diversity when I was growing up but I think this has changed some. In short, if you’re a young (esp. Catholic) family I think it would be the ideal place. If you’re a single transplant I think it’s definitely worth a shot as it could be a good place to settle but it will probably take a while to break in. [read more...]

I'm considering a move to St Louis, any comments? I've lived on the East Cost most of my adult life. Thanks for the help![read more...]

Saint Louis and the surrounding areas can be a great place to live when you have children. There are many options for schools including public, private, charter, and magnet schools. Don’t forget your due diligence in determining what school is best for your child. [read more...]

I'm a 31 year old male that will be moving down to st louis with my wife and 2-year old daughter. We are moving because I will be starting an academic program at barnes jewish hospital for the next 2 years. My wife is an attorney. She works for the federal government so is not making big bucks, but does OK (60-70K). We also have a fair bit of savings in the bank. I will be leaving my job for this program so we will be a single income family. We would like to live a more suburban area if possible even though we will both be working or studying in the city. We will have 2 cars (We are from chicago and not affraid of a little traffic). What we need to know is good places to live. We would like to rent a townhouse or house and stay around 1000-1200 dollars. doesnt have to be anything fancy, just a nice yard and safe area for kids. We would prefer a place that is family friendly. We don't really care about grade schools because we won't be there long enough to enroll are daughter in one. If anyone has a good suggestion on daycares, I would also appriciate that also. thanks, Bill[read more...]

Hello, I live in saint louis, missouri, I have been living here 3years now and all I have to say is that I am ready to move.I am not from st. louis,but living here has been an experience.Crime is #1, STDs is #2, and its no friendly people here, u cant have friends here cause their back stabbers, their stuck up, its not a place I would want to raise a family, I can go on and on and on about this place. But the good thing about saint louis is that they have alot of great schools(Colleges)to go, concerts, clubs and events u can go to.[read more...]

I lived in St Louis for 12 years, moved, and now I miss it. Here are some things to do in STL. There are plenty of cultural activities here. In the summer, you can attend the Muny in Forest Park, which is an outdoor theater that offers free seats for the public. We have the Symphony Orchestra, Sheldon concert hall, the Fox, Repertory Theater, Shakespere in the Park, and Touhill Preforming Arts Center. the St Louis Art Museum is amazing, there are also history museums, the Museum of Transportation, Science center, Contemporary art museum, Botanical Gardens, plus the chaotic and ever stunning City Museum. Many of the museums are free, which is uncommon. If you want to go biking, you can hit the Katy trail (it's 200 miles long) or trails in Forest Park. There are lovely lazy creeks and rivers on which you can "float" ie: spend most of the day in a Kayak, Canoe, or Raft and just drift down the river. It's very peaceful and relaxing. Missouri is geologically interesting too. There are many caves in which you can go spelunking, and further south, there are many abandon mines which give tours and information about the mineral mining industry. One of my favorite places is Elephant Rocks, essentially many 20ft boulders surrounding a lake. It's a ton of fun to climb on and thru them. There are also state parks with miles of hiking and riding trails. Another notable park is Johnson Shut-Ins. If you want to take a bit of a drive, there is wine country out west. The Daniel Boone home is very cool. Many people don't know this, but in the winter hundreds of Bald Eagles nest along both rivers. My friends and I have an annual day trip to Grafton, IL every winter to spot them. Other thoughts: not very many homeless people, traffic is so-so, meaning getting stuck on the highway during rush hour is a pain in the bootie, but a drive thru the city is mild compared to a place such as San Francisco. People in St Louis and the surrounding area seem to drive very conservatively compared to other, bigger cities. I lived in Clayton, then New Melle (very small, waaaay out west) so I feel very at home in both the city and the country. When I am in the city, I stay out of the ghetto areas, and at night, stay in the very public, well-lit areas; I've never had a problem. I like the four seasons, and I'm a very good driver because of them. Having four seasons makes me feel refreshed and alive, plus my biological calendar doesn't get confused. I don't feel that people in STL are any more artificial then residents of other, bigger cities. STL is very close-knit, and once you get in (not hard) they'll be with you til the end.[read more...]

2010 Summer in St. Louis was one of the hotted and most humid in recent history. [read more...]

Moved to (downtown) St. Louis 3 years ago, from Chicago, for my first job. In sum, I would say my opinion of St. Louis definitely leans toward dislike and I wouldn't recommend it for other transplant young people just starting their lives. PROS: Cost of living is very cheap. It's easy to get around if you have a car, commute times are small and traffic is not bad. Parking is not a problem except in a few areas. No toll roads. Gas is cheap. You can drink in movie theaters and in general, alcohol laws are pretty lax. Lots of outdoor cafes. Beautiful, interesting old architecture, particularly in the Lafayette Square and Soulard neighborhoods. Winters are warmer than Chicago. Lots of places to eat and drink beer, including some microbreweries. Lots of free public activities, including the giant Forest Park, a zoo, an art museum, and the Muny outdoor theater. There is also a gorgeous botanical garden. A few bustling cultural spots - The Loop, Central West End, Soulard, and South Grand. Occasional sightings of cultural activity and art/music events. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is excellent, albeit their repertoire is limited to the popular selections. Good hospitals. CONS: Bad economy. Jobs are so low paying that it will be hard to save money and get out of here. Hard to grow your career. Many empty and boarded up store fronts. City neighborhoods are extremely spotty, with a few nice blocks right next to run-down ones - you really never know what you're going to get when trying a new restaurant or bar, and also makes walking/jogging alone at night unsafe. Seems like this is also hindering development and growth. Racial tension is still a problem - there are areas you definitely don't go if you're white, and vice versa if you're black. North St. Louis is extremely poor and crime-ridden, and some of this is now spreading to the south. The suburbs are exclusive, cliquish, and conservative. Roads are really bad and poorly planned. You have to pay an annual 'personal property tax' on big ticket items, like cars - a few hundred dollars a year just to own something you already paid for, and paid sales tax & licensing fees on. Auto insurance is expensive because drivers are really bad. It's very hard to make new friends - the majority of people have lived and grown up here, and already have their group of friends, and don't put a lot of effort into new relationships. Popular activities seem to be limited to heavy alcohol drinking and eating a lot - not a lot of intellectual activities. Occasionally there are fun cultural events, but you have to know someone who knows someone to even hear about it, usually the day of - little to no advertising. Standards here are very low when it comes to talent, ambition, and accomplishment (however, this makes it easy to break into the art & music scene as a hobbyist). If I were to sum it up in a single statement, I'd say that St. Louis is a very midwestern blue collar city with an infiltrating sense of mediocrity, and a few hidden gems in the midst of a bog of cultural & economic stagnation.[read more...]

St. Louis, MO is safe, friendly, stable place to live. I've grown up here all my life, and now I'm proud to call this place home. I'm a single male who makes between $35,000 and $45,000 depending on the economy. I have a dog, a house and I live very comfortably. The cost of gas at the height of the "gas spike" reached $4.00 and during the lull in 2009 nearly fell to $1.35 a gallon. The city is easily navigable as there aren't toll highways and the interstates are places in convenient areas. The city is small and personal and at times it seems that everyone knows someone who knows your neighbor. The city is diverse in all regards. There is something for everyone in and around the city ranging from championship sports teams, to world class theater and musicals, to historic Forest Park and all that it contains. The downtown area has all the nightlife one could ask for. Laclede's Landing and Washington Ave. have become a hotspot for adult age groups. West Port Plaza, Maplewood, St. Charles, The Central West End, the Delmar Loop, Clayton, Brentwood, and many more places in and around the city are home to great night life and every kind of restaurant you could imagine. St. Louis schools on all levels seem to be top rated. St. Louis University, Washington University, University of Missouri St. Louis, Fontbonne, Southern Illinois University and Maryville University are just a few to name, and the community colleges around the area are also highly rated. The housing market around St. Louis took a hit much as any other cities, however it seems to have already reached bottom and be rebounding. The job market as it stands currently seems to be slowly recovering however the trades still aren't doing well. St. Louis is a fantastic place to live and raise a family. [read more...]

n/a[read more...]

stl has excellent culture venues especially the symphony and music in general. Dining is pretty creative and affordable. Art and theater superior to cities much larger. The public library is fine.[read more...]

There is always something to do or see.[read more...]

Great parks and recreation very well maintained[read more...]

I have an arts background and have lived in the Northeast, the Southeast, and grew up in the Midwest. I am married with children, and I like newer housing, good schools, plenty of shopping and family activities, and culturally diverse people. This review does not apply to the city of St. Louis, which is definitely its own world, but rather, St. Louis County, which pushes north, west, and south of the downtown area. The people are friendly, and the school options are many and varied--from private religious schools, academies, and Montessori options, to active homeschooling groups, to excellent public schools. There are also some exclusive, expensive charter schools which are excellent, as well as SLU and Washington University. Rockwood Schools are known for being the best in the area, but the district is zoned irregularly, so it's worth it see a district map. Parkway is also considered to be a good district. Ladue and Clayton are the most exclusive, expensive areas, as well as Town and Country. There are more hospitals in St. Louis than any place I've ever lived! There is plenty of shopping--you have to hunt more deliberately for unique places, but if you want easy access to a huge assortment of chain stores, there are multiple neighborhoods available. There is also a wide range of restaurants, and while they lean more toward chains than unique eateries, almost every chain you can imagine is represented, from PF Chang's and the Cheesecake Factory to Stir Crazy, Hu Hot, Macaroni Grill, and so forth. Here is what I found unusual about St. Louis: when it comes to housing, people are accustomed to older houses, and their decorating tastes (in terms of cabinetry and windows) are fairly traditional. When we were house-hunting, we were surprised at how expensive the houses were, given how old so many of them were. While there are neighborhoods with more transplants from other regions, a majority of people go to school in St. Louis and stay and stay and stay in the same areas. This means that you pay a premium to stay in a particular neighborhood, even if the house is older, smaller, and darker. Newer houses are available, but they are farther away from the city. Areas in Chesterfield, Wildwood, and St. Charles (and a couple of neighborhoods in Sunset Hills) offer beautiful, newer homes, but they are farther away and traffic can be an issue. Kirkwood has a number of pretty, older homes on smaller lots, and some of these are being completely re-designed to accommodate more modern tastes. Webster Groves is an older neighborhood--and longtime residents would never live anywhere else in St. Louis--but out of towners house-hunting might not be impressed with most offerings. Neighborhoods in St. Louis have definite flavors, and it would be worthwhile to rent first and get the feel of an area before you buy a house. Creve Coeur has a very active Jewish community, as well as a large Asian-American population. Catholicism is found in pockets throughout the county. Some schools and neighborhoods have high racial diversity, while others are almost completely white. Politically, you can find many extremes, but the majority tends to be centrist in suburban areas. People are "nice," but they do not tend to reach out to new neighbors. If you are looking to meet new people and mix in to a diverse population, it is not impossible, but it is not easy or speedy. The zoo, City Museum, Botanical Gardens, Magic House, fantastic spraygrounds and parks, pools with elaborate water slides and spray structures, and multiple opportunities for sports teams and arts education, all make St. Louis a great place to raise a family. [read more...]