A centrally located neighborhood with access to city resources
The Elms, located just east of Decatur Memorial Hospital, is a well-established neighborhood with vintage homes. The neighborhood feels like city living, with tightly spaced properties and small yards. But there's also a touch of suburban life, with neat front gardens and kids playing outside. "The Elms is like an oasis within the city center; it has such a strong neighborhood feel," says Decatur City Councilman David Horn. "Residents take pride in where they live, and there are often community events at Hess Park." Community support is a big draw to the area, and it is encouraged by nearby churches, the Decatur YMCA, and activities at the local Hess Park. Several of the city's most popular restaurants are just a walk away from The Elms, and prices tend to be below average for Decatur.
Memorial Hospital has been providing The Elms area great medical care since 1916.
The Decatur Family YMCA near The Elms is a licensed child care center.
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Hess Park is more than a typical neighborhood park
Hess Park has typical offerings like a playground, seasonal spray pad, and basketball courts, but the Decatur community works to make it much more than a neighborhood park. During every day of June and July, the Decatur Parks Department provides free lunches and activities at the park, open to all kids under 18. One beloved annual event in August is the Carson and Friends Basketball Camp, a free basketball camp for kids and young adults to learn from coaches and play in tournaments. In 2017, the St. Louis Cardinals' non-profit, Cardinal Care, helped construct the Dexter Fowler Field at Hess Park. Fowler Field has a solar-powered scoreboard, bleachers, and four baseball diamonds. It is now a location for Redbird Rookies, a program that provides a free children's baseball league to low-income families.
Hess Park located near The Elms area offers people really nice amenities.
Kids having fun playing basketball at Monroe Park near The Elms area.
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Resources for kids and families at the local YMCA and more
Located in the heart of the city, The Elms has access to community resources on all sides. The Decatur YMCA is less than a mile away and offers summer camps, fitness equipment and youth sports lessons. The YMCA holds an annual Backpack Attack event where they hand out more than 2,000 backpacks filled with supplies to students. Right next door, St. John's Lutheran Church plays an active role in the community with events like trivia nights and fellowship cookout dinners. The church helped start the Northeast Community Fund, a city-wide organization that provides assistance with food, clothes, emergency funds and healthcare. The Northeast Community Fund's building is just a mile south of The Elms and has a regular food pantry and free clothing closet.
Northeast Community Fund is a donation center near The Elms neighborhood.
The Decatur Family YMCA near The Elms is a licensed child care center.
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Older properties with a mix of fixer-uppers and fresh renovations
Built from 1920 to 1960, homes here sit in tightly packed rows in variations of midcentury styles. Ranches and bungalows rarely exceed 2,000 square feet and come with detached garages typical of that time. "You can have a well-maintained property sitting right across the street from one in need of some renovations," says Linda Ray, a broker with Brinkoetter Realtors who has sold in The Elms. "It's about half and half in the neighborhood, so there's a range of price points." Fixer-uppers can start at as low as $40,000, and newly renovated properties go for $130,000. In the fall, sidewalks in The Elms get covered in orange leaves from a canopy of oaks, maples and, appropriately, elm trees.
Many newly renovated homes in The Elms area can go for roughly 130,000.
The Elms area has many delightful and affordable homes in its community.
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Barbecue, fried fish and coffee are all within walking distance
Just north of The Elms, there are a few restaurants that residents enjoy being able to walk over to. Carrol Lou's Smokehouse slow-cooks their meat over a real wood fire and offers barbecue in sandwiches or by the pound. Coffee Connection has a double-side drive-through and a green patio area where visitors can enjoy their drinks with handmade pastries. At the neighborhood Curly's Sports Bar, bartenders greet regulars by name, and the low-key vibe turns rowdy on karaoke nights. JJ Fish & Chicken is a chain option specializing in fried fish and chicken, seasoned generously and cooked to order. The Water Street location opened in early 2024 and has a sleek interior with string lights and small dine-in tables. The closest shopping center is Brettwood Village, less than a mile north, with a Kroger, Aldi and Planet Fitness.
The Coffee Connection is a great place near The Elms area to get a good cup of coffee.
Kroger is a nice grocery store conveniently located near The Elms area.
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Laptops for every student at Eisenhower High School
Students are zoned to start school at Parsons Elementary before moving on to Stephen Decatur Middle School. Both schools get a C-minus from Niche. Then it's on to Eisenhower High, rated C-plus. Eisenhower High provides iPads and laptops to all its students and offers AP and dual enrollment courses. At the corner of the neighborhood, the William Harris Alternative Learning Academy offers specialized and alternative education for kindergarten through twelfth-grade students, with separate wings for different grade levels.
Stephen Decatur Middle School near The Elms creates an inspiring atmosphere for learning.
Parsons Accelerated School near The Elms offers plenty of fun after school activities.
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Walking or taking the bus to work from The Elms
For those working in the healthcare sector around Decatur Memorial Hospital, commutes can be as short as a 15-minute walk. Being so close to the hospital means increased emergency vehicle traffic, though. The Elms is also about 3 miles from the large employers of Decatur's industrial side, like ADM and Caterpillar. Commutes into downtown, 2 miles away, are possible via bus. Bus lines running along MLK Jr. Drive and North Water Street connect into downtown in about 10 minutes and head north to grocery stores in 5 minutes.
Caterpillar near The Elms and employs many people in the Decatur area.
The Decatur Public Transit System operates 15 bus routes some in The Elms area.
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Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Joseph Davis
Video By
Max Gilmore
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Agents Specializing in this Area
Randy Grigg
Vieweg RE/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate-Service First
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Randy Grigg,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Hess Park
Monroe Park
Garfield Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
The Elms
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in The Elms, Decatur sell after 21 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in The Elms, Decatur over the last 12 months is $58,086, down 23% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$56,707
Median Single Family Price
$56,707
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$48
Last 12 months Home Sales
14
Median List Price
$55,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-1%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-21%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
233
Median Year Built
1945
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,841
Below the national average
1,937
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
26,789
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Randy Grigg,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
836
Median Age
47
Population under 18
19.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
31.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$37,162
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$45,895
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.2%
College Graduates
11.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.4%
% Population in Labor Force
46.8%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
3''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
40/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
56/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
