St. Louis is the most affordable major American city that sits directly on the Mississippi River with a world-class art museum, a free zoo, a symphony, and one of the largest urban parks in the country — Forest Park, which at 1,293 acres is larger than Central Park. WYLT reviewed five St. Louis ZIP codes: two earned "Good for now," three earned "Think twice." The "Good for now" neighborhoods span from $292,000 to $734,000, representing genuinely different profiles for different buyers.
The honest St. Louis context: the city has significant violent crime in specific corridors, and the data reflects that in the "Think twice" ratings. The two "Good for now" ZIPs are in areas that have sustained positive trajectory and don't share those crime profiles. Understanding which St. Louis you're researching matters enormously — more than in most American cities.
Is St. Louis MO a Good Place to Live? The Data Picture
Missouri has no income tax on Social Security, state income tax up to 4.95%, and property taxes in St. Louis County that run approximately 1.1–1.5% of assessed value. St. Louis City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions — most of the desirable residential areas discussed here are technically in St. Louis County (Clayton, Webster Groves, Kirkwood), though the ZIP codes overlap. The city has a 1% earnings tax on residents and non-residents who work in the city.
Forest Park is the most underappreciated civic asset in any American city outside of New York. The free Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum (free general admission), the Missouri History Museum, and the Jewel Box all sit within its 1,293 acres. The park hosts the Muny — the largest outdoor theater in the US — and year-round events. Any neighborhood within walking or biking distance of Forest Park has an amenity advantage that property prices don't fully reflect.
St. Louis Neighborhood Breakdown — WYLT's Data
63110 — Forest Park Southeast / The Hill: Good for now ✅
Walk score 34, schools 6.5, median home $292,000. The most affordable "Good for now" in the dataset and WYLT's strongest recommendation for value buyers in St. Louis. Forest Park Southeast has been in sustained recovery for over a decade — the neighborhood immediately east of Forest Park, with direct park access and proximity to Washington University Medical Center (one of the city's major anchor employers). The Hill adjacent is St. Louis's Italian-American neighborhood with a restaurant density that punches well above the city's size. At $292K near one of America's best urban parks, the data makes a compelling case.
63105 — Clayton: Good for now ✅
Walk score 27, schools 6.5, median home $734,000. Clayton is technically a separate city within St. Louis County — the county seat and the location of most major law firms, financial services companies, and corporate offices that don't need downtown St. Louis addresses. At $734K it's the most expensive ZIP in the dataset, earning "Good for now" on the strength of neighborhood stability, excellent services, and one of the better public school systems in the St. Louis metro (Clayton School District is separate from and above SLPS). Car-dependent but functionally suburban with urban office access. Best for corporate and legal professionals whose work centers on Clayton.
63118 — Soulard / Benton Park: Think twice ⚠️
Walk score 46, schools 6.5, median home $194,000. Soulard is St. Louis's oldest neighborhood, home to the Soulard Farmers Market (running continuously since 1779) and a dense row house fabric. At $194K it has the lowest price in the dataset. The "Think twice" reflects elevated crime in parts of the ZIP and the reality that while Soulard's bar district is lively, the residential blocks adjacent to the entertainment corridor have the issues that entertainment corridors typically bring. Worth researching for buyers who want the lowest St. Louis entry price and have done the block-level homework.
63104 — Tower Grove South / Compton Heights: Think twice ⚠️
Walk score 29, schools 6.6, median home $243,000. Tower Grove Park — another beautiful St. Louis public park — anchors this neighborhood. Tower Grove South has been in recovery trajectory and has genuine architectural appeal (Victorian homes, the Tower Grove Farmers Market). The "Think twice" comes from crime rates that run above the level the neighborhood's visual appeal would suggest. Transitional in the most genuine sense: some blocks are fully recovered, others are not. For buyers willing to research specific streets, there's real value at $243K.
63119 — Webster Groves: Think twice ⚠️
Walk score 8, schools 6.4, median home $314,000. Webster Groves is one of St. Louis's most established inner suburbs — the historic homes, the Midwest-ideal neighborhood aesthetic, Webster University. At $314K with walk score 8, the "Think twice" is about car dependence and the price for what you get relative to Forest Park SE at $292K. Schools through Webster Groves School District are separate from SLPS and rate above city averages. Best for families who want the suburban character at a price that's still significantly below the national average for this neighborhood type.
St. Louis's Economy — More Than You Think
St. Louis's economy is more diversified than its Rust Belt reputation implies. Major headquarters include Centene Corporation (one of the largest healthcare companies in the US by revenue), Edward Jones (the financial services firm), Emerson Electric, Bunge (global agribusiness), and Peabody Energy. Boeing has significant operations here (defense manufacturing). BJC HealthCare and SSM Health are two of the city's largest employers. Washington University in St. Louis is consistently ranked a top-15 research university and its medical school is a major research and employment anchor.
The startup ecosystem has grown significantly around WashU's entrepreneurship programs and the BJC/WUSL medical complex. The cost of living makes St. Louis a legitimate remote work destination — $292K for a Forest Park SE home means the savings relative to coastal markets are immediate and compounding.
The Honest Verdict on Moving to St. Louis
St. Louis is the right city for buyers who want genuine urban amenities at Midwest prices and have done the neighborhood-level research that the city requires. Forest Park SE at $292K near a world-class park, free art museum, and free zoo is not replicated anywhere in the country at this price. Clayton at $734K offers suburban stability with excellent schools for corporate and legal professionals. The "Think twice" ZIPs require honest block-level research — the data reflects real variance that the city's architectural beauty can obscure on a weekend visit.
Also in the WYLT moving guides: Kansas City MO, Nashville TN, Cleveland OH.
