The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is symbolic of the early American quest for adventure and opportunity. The 630-foot-tall, stainless steel structure is the nation’s largest manmade monument.
Any pending move to St. Louis is also full of opportunities.
The city of St. Louis is home to more than 300,000 residents. The population of Greater St. Louis is more than 2.8 million, making it the 21st largest metro area in the country. St. Louis is strategically located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Today it is one of America’s largest inland ports.
It is also known as the “20 minute city,” thanks to an excellent transportation system.
Moving to St. Louis?
You might want to learn more about “The Gateway City.” For instance, the cost of living, its major employers, and the educational system. You might also wonder what there is to do during your leisure time.
Here’s what you need to know about moving to St. Louis:
Cost of Living
What will your cost of living be in St. Louis?
According to salary.com, it’s 4.3% lower than the national average. During a period of inflation, St. Louis’ cost of living increased a modest 0.7% year-over-year. In the first quarter of 2023, Missouri had the nation’s fourth lowest cost of living among the 50 states.
The lower cost of housing is a major contributor. About 56% of St. Louis households are renter-occupied. The average rent is $1,151.
Major Employers
Of course, Anheuser Busch and its flagship brewery are in St. Louis. Numerous Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in greater St. Louis. Centene ranks #25 in the United States, with annual revenue exceeding $140 billion. Emerson Electric, Edward Jones, Olin, and Graybar Electric are others.
Various organizations employ more than 15,000 workers each. They include BJC Healthcare, Washington University, Boeing, Walmart, and Mercy Hospitals. BJC Healthcare includes Barnes–Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Boeing workers construct F/A-18 fighters, design missile systems, and build autonomous vehicles.
Washington University is highly ranked in numerous disciplines. U.S. News ranks it 15th among the nation’s universities. Its 169-acre campus hosts about 17,000 students. Half of them are graduate students in law, medicine, and more.
Education
In addition to Washington University, greater St. Louis is also home to about a third of Missouri’s nearly 50 universities and colleges. Founded in 1818, St. Louis University is the oldest university west of the Mississippi. The highly ranked school is well-known as a research university. U.S. News ranks the University of Missouri – St. Louis a respectable 107th among the nation’s top public universities.
When it ranked the nation’s best high schools, U.S. News gave Metro Academic and Classical High School 98.77 of 100 points. It ranks #1 among the entire state’s high schools. Nationwide, it ranked 220th out of more than 18,000 ranked high schools. Clayton, Kirkwood, and Lindbergh High Schools are also among the 17 high schools in the city. They are well known for their athletic and other extracurricular programs.
Things to Do
There’s always something interesting to do in St. Louis. The city offers innumerable quality restaurants along with museums, a zoo, and more. There are vibrant entertainment districts and opportunities to take in professional baseball, hockey, and soccer games.
Arts and Culture
You’ll know when you’ve arrived at the wonderfully wacky City Museum of St. Louis – there’s a school bus on the roof! There you can experience immersive art for all ages. You could also explore MonstroCity and check out the world’s largest pencil.
By contrast, the Saint Louis Art Museum’s stately main building dates to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Five millennia of arts and culture are represented by 36,000+ objects. The art museum is in the 1300-acre Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. It is also the home of the Saint Louis Zoo.
Dining
The Hill neighborhood is home to some of the area’s finest Italian restaurants, including Charlie Gitto’s. Conde Nast Traveler rated Dominic’s as one of the top Italian restaurants in the country. At highly rated restaurants like Pappy’s, Bogart’s, Smoke+Salt, and Sugarfire, it is all about St. Louis BBQ.
New restaurants continue to make a splash across the citywide culinary scene. Savor the gaucho-style rolled skirt steak at Asador Del Sur. Cleaver and Cocktail has its its own dry aging room. Consider a mouthwatering ribeye, or try the Grilled Seafood Feast. Lucky Accomplice is a modern American restaurant with an ever changing 15 item menu.
Entertainment
The MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals play their home games downtown at the retro-style Busch Stadium. Ballpark Village hosts an exciting entertainment district downtown. The NHL’s St. Louis Blues play their home hockey games at the Enterprise Center. In 2023, MLS soccer arrives via the St. Louis CITY SC.
Historic Union Station is another popular gathering place. The Grand Hall Light Show features laser light cast upon the vaulted ceiling of the train station lobby. Check out the 200-foot St. Louis Wheel, train park, ropes course, mirror maze, and more.
The St. Louis Aquarium is an immersive experience for young and old alike. Explore the touch pools including one with jellyfish! To the west, there’s the 42-acre entertainment district at Westport Plaza.
Luxury Apartment Living in St. Louis
Moda at the Hill is a four-story, 225-unit community in the historic St. Louis neighborhood known as The Hill. It offers a host of hospitality-inspired amenities and a parking garage for 250 vehicles.
The EVO development is seven miles west of downtown St. Louis in Richmond Heights. EVO apartments feature stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and vinyl plank flooring. EVO Flats offers townhome living with one to three bedrooms. Many units have attached garages.
About Draper and Kramer
Draper and Kramer is a full-service, family operated real estate firm founded in 1893. You’ll find D&K luxury apartment properties from St. Louis to Chicago, and from Dallas to Phoenix. Check out the St. Louis-area properties above, or browse our entire inventory of luxury apartment homes.
