St. Louis, MO

[allastirperception]

The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum on WashU’s campus houses one of the most distinguished university collections in the country, including works from Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock. WashU’s Barnes-Jewish Hospital is consistently one of the top-ranked hospitals in the country which means St. Louis has some of the best health care.

[zeshresh]

St. Louis is a great balance between the coasts. It is affordable and diverse, and your life can be tailored any way you like it based on where you choose to live. The metropolitan area is about 2.5 - 3 million people so it qualifies as a "big" city. The weather will be a bit of a shock to a California native but the upshot is that you get FOUR seasons and the Spring and Fall are phenomenal in STL.

Brentwood, University City, Richmond Heights, Maplewood, St. Louis Hills, Dogtown and  The Grove tend to be the most popular, liberal, and diverse. Clayton and CWE are also really nice areas.

[Sandip3]

I think it’s impossible to talk about St. Louis without talking about Forest Park which is close to both WashU and SLU. According to Wikipedia, “Forest Park is a public park in western St. Louis, Missouri. It is a prominent civic center and covers 1,326 acres. Opened in 1876, more than a decade after its proposal, the park has hosted several significant events, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and the 1904 Summer Olympics”.

In many ways, Forest Park is the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. The 1,300-acre park is home to some of the city's top cultural institutions and hosts many of the region's most popular annual events. In the summer, there are free concerts, outdoor Shakespeare, and a huge hot air balloon race. Winter means sledding down Art Hill and ice skating. Forest Park also has a large network of trails that are wonderful year-round.

There’s the Saint Louis Art Museum which is free. It features more than 30,000 great works of art. Some of the works here include pieces by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Jean-François Millet, and more.

There’s the St. Louis Zoo which is considered to be one of the best zoos in the country and they have more than 20,000 animals and is a leader in saving endangered species and their habitats. Admission o the zoo is free.

The MUNY is the oldest outdoor theater and they produce seven musicals each year which is often compared to Boadway.

There’s also a six-mile dual trail. One of them is designed for joggers and walkers; the other for bicyclists.

Forest Park even has its own social organization to restore, maintain and sustain it with the city.  More of what it has to offer can be found here.

 

[Guest joshw4288]

There is something for everyone in St. Louis. The culture is diverse, there is a decent mix of art including museums, music and theatre. There are amusement parks and the #1 Zoo in the country (and its free). The science center and forest park are awesome. Saint Louis has the river front, casinos and many historic areas.

Housing costs are low compared to other cities, they have a lot of highly rated school districts, and plenty of parks, trails, and green space. St. Louis has 4 distinct seasons, aren’t struggling with limited water supply like a lot of other places, and has a ton of various museums, different music offerings, and theater.

There is a booming craft beer scene, and growing technology sector. St. Louis has high quality pro sports teams with knowledgeable and rabid fan bases.

There are many free things to do: parks, sculpture gardens, public events like the St Louis Faire, in beautiful Forest Park. There are free time slots at the Botanical Gardens, and at the Art Museum, both outstanding venues. Free Shakespeare in the Park happens every June, and other events all summer long. Every year, there’s also International Institute’s Festival of Nation. Its goals are to build a more inclusive society that recognizes and appreciates the contributions of all its many and diverse peoples.

[Tderossett]

I was recently accepted to Saint Louis University's graduate program in psychology and I am curious as to the cost of living in STL. I know rent is pretty cheap, but what should I expect as far as electricity, internet, etc. for a one or two bedroom apartment? Thanks!

[narple]

On 2/12/2018 at 5:00 PM, Tderossett said:

I was recently accepted to Saint Louis University's graduate program in psychology and I am curious as to the cost of living in STL. I know rent is pretty cheap, but what should I expect as far as electricity, internet, etc. for a one or two bedroom apartment? Thanks!

I would guess that you wouldn't be paying more than $100 combined in winter, but it is really gonna depend on the space and insulation. But congrats on SLU! Mid-town and South City (Tower Grove / Grand area) are fun! Excellent city for PhD budget!

[pinoysoc]

On 2/12/2018 at 5:00 PM, Tderossett said:

I was recently accepted to Saint Louis University's graduate program in psychology and I am curious as to the cost of living in STL. I know rent is pretty cheap, but what should I expect as far as electricity, internet, etc. for a one or two bedroom apartment? Thanks!

It's pretty cheap. Graduated with my MA from SLU in Sociology. I stayed in the dorms because it was 2-year program, but ended up staying to work as I apply to PhD programs. I live in the CWE and found an affordable place under 900 that includes rent and utilities. Midtown is good, but be careful of the developed areas. Tower Grove park is banging! The Grove is as well. Are you going to have a car?

[Isocrates2.o]

Some people on this thread have complained of St. Louis' "lack of culture." Can anyone suggest areas that might have more of this, even if they aren't particularly overwhelming? I'm not looking for Brooklyn here, people, but some coffeeshops, galleries, co-ops, theaters, etc.? 

[Tderossett]

On 2/15/2018 at 9:44 AM, narple said:

I would guess that you wouldn't be paying more than $100 combined in winter, but it is really gonna depend on the space and insulation. But congrats on SLU! Mid-town and South City (Tower Grove / Grand area) are fun! Excellent city for PhD budget!

Thank you! That is great to hear. That is much cheaper than I expected. 

5 hours ago, pinoysoc said:

It's pretty cheap. Graduated with my MA from SLU in Sociology. I stayed in the dorms because it was 2-year program, but ended up staying to work as I apply to PhD programs. I live in the CWE and found an affordable place under 900 that includes rent and utilities. Midtown is good, but be careful of the developed areas. Tower Grove park is banging! The Grove is as well. Are you going to have a car?

That is awesome. That is about what I pay in a much smaller college town (12 square miles, population ~ 19,000) which is great news. Yes, I have a good dependable car. I've seen where parking can be pretty pricey in some areas which sort of sucks but that is the only complaint I've had so far. 

[narple]

On 2/16/2018 at 11:42 AM, Isocrates2.o said:

Some people on this thread have complained of St. Louis' "lack of culture." Can anyone suggest areas that might have more of this, even if they aren't particularly overwhelming? I'm not looking for Brooklyn here, people, but some coffeeshops, galleries, co-ops, theaters, etc.? 

So I grew up in StL. It is a neighborhood-based city, but great number of the metro area which is considered STL lives in the suburbs (50-60s white flight). This is changing to a certain extent, especially in the last 10-15 years, but it has also created a dialogue of safe and unsafe neighborhoods. This has been perpetuated both by the city population as a whole and institutions like SLU and WashU. So the result is that students tend to gravitate to the areas by campus that are considered "safe."

This being said, there are definitely areas that I, as a young person, would not want to walk through alone at night. These areas frequently border some of the most fun parts of the city too. My point is to take all the discussions of "safe/unsafe" areas with a grain of salt and go see the areas for yourself. 

But to your point about more "cultural areas": Cherokee street is the sort of LatinX and Mexican area of the city (though its small) its also a street with a lot of bars and STL style chill (small dance bars). The Grove (mentioned above) is STL's open queer scene (i.e. lots of gay bars and undergrads). The Hill (italian food and groceries); Benton Park=hipster-dom (but with a little money); Lafayette and Soulard are the French quarters (and excellent BBQ). The Loop used to be edgy and was the new area before the Grove (which was before Cherokee), but has been bought up a lot by WashU. Grand/ Tower Grove are my personal favorites- yummy variety of food and on the affordable side. Botanical Gardens are also in the area and close to SLU. Mid-town is kinda industrial, but has lots of theaters small for standup and large for broadway. New hip restaurants etc. Central West End is sorta the affluent closer to the city area, best indie bookstore in the city (Left Bank Books) and lots of Med students. ON the opposite end of Forest park from WashU. Wash Ave is the downtown "Night Out Street". A lot of "business types chill around there. 

My descriptions are generalizations-and I am sure I skipped some good ones-but it gives you an idea of the layout.

[CelestialJenkins]

@stheart, There are some really cool things about Saint Louis.  I can't picture living there either, but every person I've ever known that has lived in Saint Louis LOVES it.  I've been there a weekend visiting a friend...I was blown away by the food and affordability and the city museum.  But I didn't get a chance to explore that much

[Carly Rae Jepsen]

I might go to WashU and really liked the Delmar Loop area, but I'm aware it's so-so safety wise. What would you suggest for someone who values walkability? I would ideally search for a place near campus. Sad to hear about public transport sucking, as I won't get a car nor plan to get one soon, really.

[KR Marksmen]

On 3/11/2018 at 11:47 PM, Carly Rae Jepsen said:

I might go to WashU and really liked the Delmar Loop area, but I'm aware it's so-so safety wise. What would you suggest for someone who values walkability? I would ideally search for a place near campus. Sad to hear about public transport sucking, as I won't get a car nor plan to get one soon, really.

Delmar Loop is a great area. Lots of food and entertainment. That being said, just like every city, you have to learn the safe and not so safe areas. If you stay within the loop you should be fine. Same goes for most of the popular student living areas (CWE, Delmar/U City). To me St Louis is very easy to tell you are in an area you "shouldn't be in", you'll recognize that your surroundings have drastically changed.

Most of my student friends live in/around the loop, in the central west end, or by debaliviere/forest park(Recommend waiting to move to this area until after your first year). If you find a place in either of those though public transportation won't be an issue. Students have free access to metro/subway and you can get to most things you need (school, grocery store, entertainment) in less than 10 minutes. Walkability is great and even with cars most of us (that being my classmates) rarely use them for normal day to day. 

Feel free to PM if you have any more questions.

[Carly Rae Jepsen]

1 hour ago, KR Marksmen said:

Delmar Loop is a great area. Lots of food and entertainment. That being said, just like every city, you have to learn the safe and not so safe areas. If you stay within the loop you should be fine. Same goes for most of the popular student living areas (CWE, Delmar/U City). To me St Louis is very easy to tell you are in an area you "shouldn't be in", you'll recognize that your surroundings have drastically changed.

Most of my student friends live in/around the loop, in the central west end, or by debaliviere/forest park(Recommend waiting to move to this area until after your first year). If you find a place in either of those though public transportation won't be an issue. Students have free access to metro/subway and you can get to most things you need (school, grocery store, entertainment) in less than 10 minutes. Walkability is great and even with cars most of us (that being my classmates) rarely use them for normal day to day. 

Feel free to PM if you have any more questions.

Thank you, this helps a lot! I'll send you a PM if I have other questions.

[Carly Rae Jepsen]

Everybody: is there a substantial difference between Skinker Debaliviere and University City (North of Delmar across WashU's North Campus)? The Skinker place I am looking at is cheaper and frankly the difference between services offered is minimal so I am leaning towards there, but I am concerned about safety and such. 

I've also heard north of Delmar it can get rough, so I guess I'm wondering about safety for both places.

I'm not considering elsewhere, I want to be within walking distance due to lack of a car (someone suggested Pasadena Hills in another website, lol).

Current grad students were lukewarm or against housing with Quadrangle but their places seemed fine for me, and it would be just easier for me.

[kitcassidance]

Hi!  Have done a decent amount of research already, but it's hard to get a feel for places from google alone.  Anyone have suggestiosn for neighborhoods with apartments that are (rank order priorities):
1) dog-friendly 
2) affordable (ideally under $1000 for a 2bd) 
3) reasonably safe 
4) have in unit w/d
5) exposed brick if we're picking and choosing
6) garage access 

Anyone have suggestions?  Or neighborhoods I should definitely steer clear of? 
 

[TheStLucas]

On 4/3/2018 at 5:59 AM, Carly Rae Jepsen said:

Everybody: is there a substantial difference between Skinker Debaliviere and University City (North of Delmar across WashU's North Campus)? The Skinker place I am looking at is cheaper and frankly the difference between services offered is minimal so I am leaning towards there, but I am concerned about safety and such. 

I've also heard north of Delmar it can get rough, so I guess I'm wondering about safety for both places.

I'm not considering elsewhere, I want to be within walking distance due to lack of a car (someone suggested Pasadena Hills in another website, lol).

Current grad students were lukewarm or against housing with Quadrangle but their places seemed fine for me, and it would be just easier for me.

Hey there, I will be also attending Washu this Fall.

 

What did the grad students say exactly about Quadrangle? I've just rented an apartment in University City from them (going in August) and seeing this post makes me worried now.

Edited April 4, 2018 by TheStLucas

[Carly Rae Jepsen]

48 minutes ago, TheStLucas said:

Hey there, I will be also attending Washu this Fall.

 

What did the grad students say exactly about Quadrangle? I've just rented an apartment in University City from them (going in August) and seeing this post makes me worried now.

They said they're not the best when it comes to maintenance and such. I was looking at Yelp reviews and that seems to be a common complaint, too. Given how most of their places are filled, I wouldn't give that too much weight, though. Their places seem comfortable and convenient and as a first year that's just what I need.

[TheStLucas]

On 4/4/2018 at 8:34 AM, Carly Rae Jepsen said:

They said they're not the best when it comes to maintenance and such. I was looking at Yelp reviews and that seems to be a common complaint, too. Given how most of their places are filled, I wouldn't give that too much weight, though. Their places seem comfortable and convenient and as a first year that's just what I need.

Hmm, I see. Mine is also very close to the uni and all utilities are included in the rent, so that's a big plus. The only downside is that it's unfurnished.

[historygeek]

I'm an undergraduate at Saint Louis University and have absolutely fallen in love with the city! It reminds me a lot of home (I'm from another mid-size river city, Cincinnati), but is in and of itself unique. 

The cost of living in Saint Louis is relatively low and very doable. Apartments near where I live in midtown are ~$1000 a month for a two bedroom with two bathrooms, furniture, and electric/wifi/water/etc. Groceries are also pretty inexpensive depending on where you go; my boyfriend and I go to Schnuck's, which is pretty comparable to Kroger prices back home. It helps that a lot of the activities in Saint Louis (the history museum, art museum, zoo, etc.) are all free. You can do quite a bit in Saint Louis for very little money. 

There are really great, cool neighborhoods to check out in STL as well. I just did an internship in the Italian neighborhood, called the Hill, which is pretty well-known for its restaurants and the fact that it's where Yogi Berra was born. There are also some great bakeries and stores there as well; I particularly like Herbaria, which is a store that sells homemade vegan soap. A lot of people, I think, just write the neighborhood off as a quaint place where the restaurants are, but it's definitely worth exploring. The Loop, near WashU, is a cool, trendy area with a lot of cool shops; Central West End is also pretty cool and trendy, if you're into that. There's also a Bosnian neighborhood (Bevo Mill), since St. Louis has the largest Bosnian population outside of Sarajevo. Of course, downtown is great, and there are places in the neighboring county which are worth a day trip. I'm particularly fond of Saint Charles; my boyfriend is from there, and we spent a day exploring their downtown and the Lewis and Clark museum. It was quaint and really enjoyable. 

Saint Louis has some great food options as well. My personal favorites are Amighetti's (sandwich place), Marconi Bakery (they're a small pizza shop with great cannoli), Pickleman's (soups/salads/sandwiches/pizza), the Fountain on Locust (they have a really nice atmosphere), Peacock Diner (just a fun little diner in the Loop), Yiro Gyro, and Mission Taco. There are also some good dessert kinds of places: Clementine's (small creamery with non-traditional flavors, including boozy ones), Missouri Bakery (good little bakery), etc. 

As for public transport, it's pretty reliable and I've never had trouble with the bus or the train. I rode the bus alone every week (sometimes twice a week) and never had an issue. I also rode the train alone at night downtown and didn't feel unsafe. Having a car wouldn't be the worst thing; it's easier to get around via car than it is via train, and having a car gives you more access to things in St. Louis County or across the river in Illinois. 

Safety-wise, I've never really felt unsafe in the city. I think that the bad neighborhoods (especially East St. Louis) get combined with St. Louis crime statistics and give the city a bad rep. It's not a bad place at all, and has a lot of great history that people don't really ever think about. 

[historygeek]

On 4/3/2018 at 2:50 PM, kitcassidance said:

Hi!  Have done a decent amount of research already, but it's hard to get a feel for places from google alone.  Anyone have suggestiosn for neighborhoods with apartments that are (rank order priorities):
1) dog-friendly 
2) affordable (ideally under $1000 for a 2bd) 
3) reasonably safe 
4) have in unit w/d
5) exposed brick if we're picking and choosing
6) garage access 

Anyone have suggestions?  Or neighborhoods I should definitely steer clear of? 
 

Try the Standard in Midtown maybe? My friend lives there and her rent is out $931 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom. She has a cat, but they're dog friendly. It's a nice area (I live there). 

[kitcassidance]

15 hours ago, historygeek said:

Try the Standard in Midtown maybe? My friend lives there and her rent is out $931 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom. She has a cat, but they're dog friendly. It's a nice area (I live there). 

Hi!  Thanks for the suggestion!  Unfortunately, those prices are per-bed rents, and I'll be moving with my husband.  I'd definitely keep this in mind if I was looking for a roommate though!  Thanks again  

[Carly Rae Jepsen]

I somehow found a place in University City within my budget. It looks big and nice and I am really excited, but living on my own sounds intimidating too. Oh well.

[cr615]

On 4/2/2018 at 9:59 PM, Carly Rae Jepsen said:

Everybody: is there a substantial difference between Skinker Debaliviere and University City (North of Delmar across WashU's North Campus)? The Skinker place I am looking at is cheaper and frankly the difference between services offered is minimal so I am leaning towards there, but I am concerned about safety and such. 

I've also heard north of Delmar it can get rough, so I guess I'm wondering about safety for both places.

I'm not considering elsewhere, I want to be within walking distance due to lack of a car (someone suggested Pasadena Hills in another website, lol).

Current grad students were lukewarm or against housing with Quadrangle but their places seemed fine for me, and it would be just easier for me.

Hey! I live in Skinker Debaliviere. I have also visited friends in U city north of Delmar by WashU. 

I think both areas are similar in terms of crime (this is my very unscientific perception/experience). You wont be exposed to violent crimes in these areas. However, due to the high residential density and the fact that they are adjacent to "tougher" areas, both neighborhoods are targets for crimes such as car break-ins (very common in Skinker Debaliviere) and the occasional robbery. I have not had any issues myself, but I do hear about these crimes often. 

You are right about north of Delmar having a bad reputation. It is, in fact, a low-income area with a high-crime rate. However, I don't think the "Delmar Divide" applies north of Delmar near WashU/The Loop because there are so many students, businesses, and families in the area. 

 

Here's what I will say about Skinker Debalieviere:

 

I like living here because its nice and close to the park. There are two cafes in the area, but they are only open in the morning and they are nothing to rave about. Although the neighborhood is close to CWE, its not necessarily walking distance. We don't have a good restaurant or bar to walk to, which is a bummer. Now, that being said, you have Forest Park that you can walk to, and there are always people walking their dogs in the neighborhood (if you area  dog owner). 

 

If you are looking for a neighborhood that has bars/restaurants you can walk to, the i would say U City is a better bet. If you want a quieter, perhaps more walkable neighborhood, Skinker Debaliviere is your bet. 

[birdy-bear]

On 4/3/2018 at 1:50 PM, kitcassidance said:

Hi!  Have done a decent amount of research already, but it's hard to get a feel for places from google alone.  Anyone have suggestiosn for neighborhoods with apartments that are (rank order priorities):
1) dog-friendly 
2) affordable (ideally under $1000 for a 2bd) 
3) reasonably safe 
4) have in unit w/d
5) exposed brick if we're picking and choosing
6) garage access 

Anyone have suggestions?  Or neighborhoods I should definitely steer clear of? 
 

This is probably too late to be useful for you, but if you haven't found a place yet, I recommend getting in contact with FrontDoor! They were our landlords for the last two years... They tick every checkbox on your list (although there's a pretty decent jump in housing quality if you can push your budget from $1000 to $1100), they have a bunch of dog-friendly properties around town, and they're genuinely the best property managers my husband and I have ever had. Plus, they rent most of their properties in the Grove, and there's nowhere else I'd rather live in STL. Let me know if you have any questions, and best of luck!