Towering 630 feet over the city, the Gateway Arch is an endearing symbol of St. Louis’ reputation as the “Gateway to the West.” And while the region’s days as a key stop for traveling pioneers are long gone, St. Louis has evolved into a gateway to so much more. This is an area rich with jobs in industries like health care and manufacturing. It’s where foodies can chow down on St. Louis’ signature-style grilled ribs and where sports fans can appreciate the atmosphere at Cardinals baseball games and Blues hockey games no matter what teams they grew up rooting for.
Once part of territory that was home to about a dozen Native American tribes, the area was established as St. Louis by French settlers in 1764. The city’s location along the Mississippi River and its development into a railroad hub helped it grow into a titan of industry in the 19th century. St. Louis was once among the top five biggest cities in the U.S. and its population swelled to some 850,000 people in the mid-20th century after an influx of newcomers during the Great Migration. The population has since declined, in part because of residents’ shift to the surrounding suburbs, but today's number of just over 300,000 makes St. Louis Missouri’s second most-populous city.
St. Louis’ current residents have 79 different neighborhoods to choose from, offering a range of characters — whether someone wants a classic home or a recent build. And the still relatively accessible price tags here continue to appeal to people.
There are never less than 40,000 spectators at the Cardinals opening day.
The Enterprise Center is home base to the St. Louis Blues.
St. Louis' proximity to the Mississippi sparked it as a railroad hun in the 19th century.
Union Station Farris Wheel in St. Louis glows in the foreground of the Gateway Arch.
1/4
Listings continue to attract fervent interest
While they differ in atmosphere and specific architectural styles, the city’s six dozen neighborhoods share a similar aesthetic thanks to the prevalence of red brick. Many homes around St. Louis were built with brick, thanks to the city’s location on a prominent red cay deposit. Tall Italianate- and Victorian-style homes dating back to the 19th century fill many of the neighborhoods in and around St. Louis’ core, including Lafayette Square and Benton Park . Craftsman-style options from the early to mid-20th century can be found on the city’s outskirts in areas like Patch and Lindenwood Park .
The area has a diverse mix of not just single-family houses, but also townhomes and condos. According to the St. Louis Association of Realtors, the single-family homes are selling for an average of $388,004, up a tad over 7% year over year, while the townhouses and condos are going for $294,958, an increase of a little over 5%. And while the number of townhomes and condos in the city have increased around 53% year over year, the inventory of single-family houses is down about 13%. "With the inventory shortage, we've seen an increase in prices," says Rhonda Jones, a St. Louis resident and a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield, with 25 years of real estate sales in the city. "Still, compared with the East Coast or West Coast, even Atlanta, Arizona and Seattle, our prices seem more affordable than in most places."
Homes are selling for an average of 29 days on the market, significantly less than the national average of 44 days. "It's competitive for move-in ready properties," Jones says. "St. Louis is a good investment market. So, people from the East and West Coasts come to invest and flip homes because our real estate costs less than the coastal markets."
St. Louis’ housing market continues to be influenced by the city’s history of redlining and other discriminatory practices that were so prevalent that the St. Louis Association of Realtors published an apology to the city’s Black community for the practices in 2022. St. Louis is still considered one of the most segregated cities in the country. The northern part of the city, where much of the city’s Black population was pushed to, has much higher concentrations of vacant housing and a lower proportion of owner-occupied housing than other parts of St. Louis.
Two Bedroom and Two Bathroom homes are common in Northampton.
Amazing tudor revival homes are on every corner in Holly Hills.
Victorian influenced homes are abundant throughout the Lafayette Square neighborhood.
Gravois Park boasts many historic story brick homes.
1/4
From healthcare to transportation, St. Louis is still strong in industry
Commerce has always been part of St. Louis’ fabric. The area’s original French settlers established a fur trading post here, and this city by the water later grew into both a key port and a railroad center. Health care and social assistance is the region’s largest industry today in terms of employment at more than 191,000 jobs, according to the 2024 Missouri Economic Report. Major hospitals in the city include the 1,400-bed Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the 859-bed Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Healthcare company Centene and health reinsurance company Reinsurance Group of America are two of the seven Fortune 500 companies based in the St. Louis area.
Manufacturing is still a key industry here, too, including the presence of U.S. headquarters for Anheuser-Busch, which was created in St. Louis in 1876. Other manufacturing players like Emerson Electric call the city home.
Since the first railroad tracks were laid in the city in the mid-19th century, St. Louis has been one of the country’s most prominent railroad hubs, with six major lines running through it. The railroads contribute to the city's manufacturing strength.
Anheuser-Busch headquarters is located at I-55 and Arsenal in St. Louis.
St. Louis has active railways for commercial freight.
People come from all around the world to seek medical attention from Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Centene Corporation is one of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered in St. Louis.
1/4
Forest Park offers plenty to explore
St. Louis’ urban jungle is dotted with an array of green space. The city is home to 108 parks, including the 131-acre Fairground Park, full of several fields, trails and a lake open to fishing inside the Fairground neighborhood. Tower Grove Park is a 289-acre space that’s popular for walks or runs through towering trees.
Forest Park, found in Central West End , is the city’s most prominent park. The site of the 1904 World’s Fair, Forest Park stretches 1,370 acres, which is 527 more acres than New York City’s Central Park. Some 12 million people visit Forest Park every year — it’s the site of the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum, which are all free. Forest Park also has everything from an archery range to rugby fields to the 22-court Dwight Davis Tennis Center.
The Gateway Arch is surrounded by green space as well, part of the Gateway Arch National Park, which includes trails. The arch itself is the tallest monument in the country. People can go for walks along the city’s expanding Brickline Greenway, an ongoing project that will link 14 city neighborhoods across 20 miles of paths by June 2025.
St. Louis experiences all four seasons, from humid summers to winters with an average of about 18 inches of snow. Bad weather can be countered by spots like Grandma’s Playground, an indoor playground open to children of all ages. Other indoor spots include Top Notch Axe Throwing, where visitors can toss not just axes but also ninja stars and throwing cards.
Aerial overview of Fairground Park and is open green space.
The At Museum standing over Forest Park in the evening light.
The St. Louis Arch grounds got a four year renovation that was completed in 2018
Forest Park is vast allowing everyone to find some meditative space.
1/4
Dive into retail and dining downtown
Much of the city's opportunities for shopping and many of its restaurants are concentrated around Downtown Saint Louis . The Washington Avenue corridor is known for its selection of options in particular, a stretch that got new life after a revitalization project that started at the turn of the 21st century. This walkable avenue has everything from barbershops to clothing stores to chain and local restaurants. Busch Stadium, home of the MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals, and the Enterprise Center, home of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, are downtown, too. The Central West End is another prominent commercial center, a mixed-use neighborhood with spots like the Lindell Marketplace.
Barbecue is another food the city is known for — the style here is grilled, then sauced. But there’s a little something for just about every foodie in town. "You could spend every weekend in St. Louis going to a new restaurant and have all kinds of cuisine,” Jones says. “Every kind, from Thai to Indian food, to Jamaican to African.”
Left Bank Books opened in 1969 by a group of graduate students from Washington University.
Rosalita's mexican restaurant on Washington Avenue is a great place to hang out any time of day
Take in the view of the Arch and the field on Cardinals opening day.
The Stellar Hog in Holly Hills is a popular place for delicious BBQ.
1/4
St. Louis Public Schools serves 20,000 students
The Saint Louis Public Schools system has a checkered past — mounting issues across multiple categories led to the district losing its accreditation in 2007. However, after improvements in areas including academic performance and attendance, the system earned full accreditation again in 2017. SLPS, which encompasses almost 70 schools and serves nearly 20,000 students, currently carries a C rating on Niche. The district supports its students by offering several magnet schools focused on topics like visual and performing arts and STEAM.
There are dozens of private schools in the city. Among them is the A-plus-rated John Burroughs School, No. 1 on Niche’s list of the area’s best private options. Burroughs covers Grades 7 to 12 and has dedicated departments in industrial technology and engineering, family and consumer science, and computer science.
Opportunities for higher education in the city include Saint Louis University, a private Catholic school; Washington University, a private research university; and the public Harris-Stowe State University, an HBCU. All three are on Niche’s list of the best colleges in the St. Louis area.
Four major interstates and Metro Transit offers public transportation
Traffic here is a relative breeze compared to some other metropolitan areas. Residents have quick access to four major highways — Interstates 70, 64, 44 and 55. I-55 and I-70 lead across the Mississippi River and into Illinois, while I-70 also is the quickest route to St. Louis Lambert International Airport. One of five airports in the St. Louis region, Lambert International is the primary option and serves millions of passengers each year with nonstop flights to over 70 destinations. Public transportation around the city is available via Metro Transit, which has the MetroBus, a 60-route system, and MetroLink, the city’s light rail.
I-64 is the main artery of car traffic running east and west.
Crime
St. Louis has historically struggled with crime, including violent crime rates among the highest in the country. The city’s population-adjusted violent crime rate was higher than the rates seen statewide and nationwide, according to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.
But the city has made strides. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reported that, through late December 2024, the city’s overall crime rate was down by 15% year over year, though burglaries were up by 3%. One step the city took in 2023 was banning the open carry of firearms for those who don't have a concealed carry permit.
With over 20 years of real estate experience, I have a deep understanding of the industry and an unwavering commitment to my clients. My expertise spans Residential, Relocation, Acreage and Farms, Commercial Land and Lake Properties. I am licensed in Missouri and proudly serve Saint Louis, Jefferson, Saint Charles, Warren and Lincoln Counties.
I also specialize in seamless transactions in the Lake of the Ozarks region, Whether you are looking to buy or sell a lake home.
I pride myself on unparalleled customer service, consistently going above and beyond to meet the unique needs of my clients. By truly listening to their desires and requirements, I help them find their dream homes.
Building strong relationships and providing exceptional support are cornerstones of my approach. Over the years, I've accumulated valuable market insights, finely tuned my negotiation abilities, and achieved a commendable career in real estate.
Among my proudest accomplishments is leading a dedicated team of agents who share my passion for client satisfaction and impeccable service.
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.
