Best Places to Live in Missouri
The state of Missouri, with a diverse geography that includes the Ozark Mountains, Missouri River, and Northern Plains, is a beautiful state. There are many “best places to live” in Missouri for anyone relocating there.
Show Me State
The Show Me State is located in the Midwest, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Nebraska. The Mississippi River runs the length of the state’s eastern border. Missouri typically has cold winters and hot summers. If you like humidity, you’ll love Missouri in the summer. Jefferson City is the state capital, but like most people, you probably think of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis when you think of Missouri. With major, bustling urban centers like St. Louis, sleepy towns, small farms, and other great communities, there are many options on where to live for anyone relocating to Missouri.
In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at some of the best places to live in Missouri. This is a subjective list, but some of the things we took into consideration include the crime rate, unemployment rate, cost of living, job opportunities, real estate prices, and local amenities such as parks, restaurants, and shopping.
St. Louis
Let’s start with the city of St. Louis. St. Louis is a major U.S. port located along the western bank of the Mississippi River, bordering Illinois. Although Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri, St. Louis, including the surrounding cities, has the largest metropolitan area in Missouri.
Ballwin, Clayton, and Chesterfield
The city of Ballwin is west of St. Louis and has one of the lowest crime rates in the state of Missouri. With a population of 30,000, in 2013 Money Magazine named it one of the best places to live in the U.S. Richmond Heights is another nice community in Missouri, near St. Louis. With a median home value of $237,600 and a great school system, it’s the suburb of choice for many people moving to Missouri. If you’re in search of a community with great public schools, Clayton is a great choice. Niche.com rated it as the #1 public school system in the state of Missouri. With the average house priced at about $577K, Clayton is one of the wealthiest areas in Missouri as well. If great restaurants and shopping, along with close proximity to the city of St. Louis is what you’re after, then Chesterfield is a great place for you. Wildwood is a great community in Missouri that outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy. With multiple parks, trails, and other recreational activities available, it’s another “best place” to live in Missouri.
Kimmswick, Ladue, and Florissant
If you like smaller towns, the city of Kimmswick was named by Midwest Living as one of the top 100 small towns in America. Most of the shops and homes are the original buildings from when the town was founded in 1859. The town has also been added to the “National Register of Historic Places”. The city of Ladue in Missouri is another best place to live, with exceptional schools and a 99% graduation rate. It also has the highest median income of any city in Missouri. Florissant is the 12th largest city in Missouri, with a population of 53,000. The city has a rich French culture and heritage, and it’s another great community for families and others moving to the state. Another fine community is Creve Coeur. It is the 21st safest place in the state, and residents earn on average $93,400 a year. The median home value is $359,400.
Kirkwood & Webster Groves
When looking for the best places to live in Missouri, consider Kirkwood. Kirkwood is called the “Queen of the St. Louis Suburbs”. It has fantastic schools and safe neighborhoods. Don’t miss the annual Peach Festival held every summer in Kirkwood, either. Webster Groves is one of the more affluent suburbs of the St. Louis metro area. It’s a great place for families, retirees, and students, as Webster University is located in the area.
Town and Country
Town and Country is home to the Bellerive Country Club, which has hosted both the PGA Tour and U.S. Open. The cost of living is the second-highest in Missouri, but with that, you’ll get the schools and city services you expect. Glendale is a great place to live. 98% of residents living in Glendale, Missouri have at least a high school diploma. This is another great place to live, with a tiny 2.2% unemployment rate, low crime, and a median home value of about $320,000. Des Peres has residents that are affluent, as incomes are the 6th highest in the state of Missouri. With a lot of parks, restaurants and shopping choices, it’s an ideal community for families and singles alike.
There are many best places to live throughout the St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson County areas. If you plan to relocate to or from the area, choosing an experienced, professional moving company is a must. Cord Moving and Storage is an established St. Louis moving company, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.