Hello, I'm single, late 40s, and Rent is about $978/month for a decent place. With a population of 293K, St. Louis is a mid-size city. Homes are going for about $185,100 on average. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
47 upvotes
3 Replies
Ella B.
seconding this
23 upvotes
Caleb Cooper
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 14 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Cedar Grove. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 12 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Southern.
No regrets on my end..
11 upvotes
Angel
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Maple Ridge for 1 years. Moved from Chicago for retirement. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is better than expected. We bought in 2023 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 3-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
legal is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are reasonable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Maple Ridge schools are challenging. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Property taxes are high. Not a lot of cultural diversity. And nightlife can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 8/10. Would recommend to anyone considering it.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
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