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Waco, TX
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Best Place to Retire or Have Kids
Recently, I read that Forbes called St. Peters, MO one of the best places to retire in the country. It must be noted, though, that this town came about 300th on the list. St. Peters is a bedroom community, full of lots of low-crime, mostly-white, relatively new and well-kept neighborhoods. Located about 20 minutes from St. Louis, St. Peters sits just west of the Missouri River. For some reason, people find it difficult to cross the bridge into the big city very difficult, though. I knew several people who didn't see the point in driving 30 minutes to the St. Louis Galleria when there was a Class B or C shopping mall within 10 minutes of their house. Overwhelmingly conservative mindset here, few singles, and absolutely zero nightlife. Unless you're into coffee shops, home-building projects, or child-sized parks and playgrounds, you're out of luck here. GREAT place to raise kids, though--very family-oriented commmunity, good roads, safe neighborhoods, abundance of parks, good school systems (though much better ones in West County, St. Louis), and a wide variety of traditional American restaurants within 10 minutes of your home. People here very "stuck in their ways," and are afraid to spend money on anything. Very religious community, with Catholic, Baptist, and non-demonminational churches dominating the area. Local business thrives here, and grassroots movements can be very effective, as everyone here seems to know everyone else...or at least by 2 or less degrees of separation. Cultural diversity is pitifully low, and even Mexican restaurants around here have learned that if they want to survive, their food has to taste like these Midwesterners want it: bland.
If you like the idea of living in St. Louis, but need a little slower-paced area, a safer neighborhood, better housing, decent schools, or enjoy a 30-minute commute, St. Peters is the place to be.