St. Louis is often called the “Gateway of the West.” St. Louis, MO, has become the destination for people moving to the Midwest. It’s no surprise that nearly 305,000 people live in St. Louis. It is not surprising, from the city’s iconic food scene to easy access to Missouri and Illinois.
If you are considering buying real estate or moving to St. Louis, you need to know three important things. The housing market in St. Louis is relatively competitive but, still well below the national average. The median home price is $230,000. And the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,416.
Overall, St. Louis has several options for finding an apartment or home that fits the average American’s budget. We have compiled a list of the best and most affordable suburbs near or around St. Louis to consider. They are all within a 30-minute drive of the city. You can still live near St. Louis and its many unique attractions without paying the high price of living in the city.
Wood River, IL
Median home price: $94,250
Distance from St. Louis: Roughly thirty minutes
Wood River, IL, is the top suburb in our list of the most affordable St. Louis suburbs. It has a median sale price that’s nearly $100K lower than St. Louis. You won’t miss anything in St. Louis. It is only a 30-minute drive away. Wood River is home to the Wood River Aquatic Center and the Wood River Museum. You can also enjoy a picnic in Brushey Grove Park.
East Alton, IL
Median home price: $107,000
Driving Distance from St. Louis: A little over thirty minutes
East Alton is the second-most affordable suburb of St. Louis. In a short drive, the Gateway Arch is located at the same distance as Wood River from St. Louis. East Alton’s National Great Rivers Museum is where you will find exhibits on the history of the Mississippi River. Van Preter Park is a great place to spend a day , as the suburb has roughly 6,000 residents.
Granite City, IL
Median home price: $109,000
Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: Just over $800
Distance from St. Louis: Roughly fifteen minutes
Granite City is located 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis. Granite City is a great city to live in. It offers many things, from parks and outdoor recreation to local businesses. If you are moving to the third-most affordable suburb, check out Wilson Park and Horseshoe Lake State Park.
Hartford, IL
Median home price: $110,000
Driving Distance from St. Louis: Roughly thirty minutes
Hartford is the next suburb on our list. It’s a little more expensive than Granite City. This St. Louis suburb is home to about 2,000 residents. The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower are two of Hartford’s top attractions.
Overland, MO
Median home price: $143,000
Distance from St. Louis: Just over twenty minutes
Overland is a suburb located 20 minutes from St Louis. It’s a great place to rent or buy a house. This affordable suburb has 16,000 residents and is close to St. Louis without the high cost of a home. Check out Wild Acres Park or Norman Myers Park in Overland for an afternoon picnic.
Belleville, IL
Median home price: $166,400
Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: Roughly $900
Distance from St. Louis: About twenty minutes
Belleville is another well-known suburban area in St. Louis, with home prices approximately $75K lower than those in St. Louis. Belleville, a suburb of St. Louis with 41,000 residents, is an excellent place to live. This suburb is full of things to do, including visiting the Labor & Industrial Museum and other local favorites.
Fairview Heights, IL
Median home price: $182,500
The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is roughly $1700
Driving Distance from St. Louis: Twenty minutes or less
Fairview Heights is ranked seventh on our list. It is only a 20-minute drive to downtown. Fairview Heights, with a population of almost 16,000 people, is an alternative to the city. You can visit the Urban Air Trampoline Adventure Park, Pleasant Ridge Park, and Long Acre Park if you decide to move to this suburban area.
Florissant, MO
Median home price: $188,450
Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: under $1k
Distance from St. Louis: Roughly twenty minutes
Florissant is a suburb of St. Louis that you might be familiar with if you have lived there for a while. This affordable suburb is home to almost 51,000 people, which means you will have only a fraction of the population of St. Louis while still being close to its attractions. If you live in Florissant, visit one of the parks and recreational areas, such as Hazelwood City Park or James S. McDonnell Park.
Collinsville, IL
Median home price: $202,450
Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: Just over $900
Driving Distance from St. Louis: Just over twenty minutes
If you live in Collinsville, IL, you can reach downtown St. Louis within 20 minutes without traffic. Collinsville is home to close to 24,500 residents, and there are always new places to explore. Collinsville is home to the Collinsville Area Recreation District, the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, and the Gateway Convention Center.
Bringing It All Together
While St. Louis has it’s positives, the suburbs that surround and are close to the St. Louis have become more desirable than that of the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. If you are looking for a great place to invest in a potentially golden opportunity, each of these suburbs may be just right for you.