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Douglas R.
housing
Rent vs buy in St. Louis — what makes sense?
Military spouse here. Poverty rate is 13.8%, which is around average. Household incomes average around $55,279 in St. Louis. It's a a mid-size city city with about 293K people. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. The weather takes some getting used to.
Pros:
- Good job market
- Good schools
- Diverse community
- Strong sense of community
- Plenty of shopping options
Cons:
- Limited public transit
- Rising rent prices
- Limited nightlife
- High property taxes
- Mosquitoes and humidity
Should I be concerned? The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The weather takes some getting used to. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. 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. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The weather takes some getting used to.
Pros:
- Good job market
- Good schools
- Diverse community
- Strong sense of community
- Plenty of shopping options
Cons:
- Limited public transit
- Rising rent prices
- Limited nightlife
- High property taxes
- Mosquitoes and humidity
Should I be concerned? The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. I'd say it's better for families than young singles. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The weather takes some getting used to. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. 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. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The weather takes some getting used to.
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