Where to Live in the Metro East if You’re a St. Louisan Fleeing Missouri

By Riverfront Times Staff on Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 6:00 am

If you're a St. Louisan tired of Missouri, Alton — and the whole Metro East — beckon.

St. Louisans are eyeing the other side of the Mississippi River. After all, unlike most deep blue cities in blood-red states, St. Louis is within a metropolitan area that straddles two very different states. Just one highway exit past Busch Stadium lies Illinois, where abortion is legal, strip clubs are plentiful and no one is coming after transgender rights. As Kallie Cox explains in this week's cover story, that's tempting to a lot of people.

Now, if you genuinely start scouting the Metro East for a move, you may be alarmed to realize these suburbs are largely very different from your neighborhood in St. Louis. But we believe there’s a perfect Illinois town for every fleeing St. Louisan.

Read on for our suggestions.

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like Florissant….
You should consider Belleville.
There may be a few more golf course neighborhoods on the Illinois side of the river, but these two communities have a lot in common: attractive Victorian homes, a charming downtown district and growing racial diversity.

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like Maplewood….
You should give Alton a try.
Like Mapleweird, Alton has a vibe that’s cool and funky, with a great mix of people and interesting businesses. And it has one big advantage over its south city-ish counterpart: Its placement on the Mississippi makes for sensational river views.

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like Kirkwood….
You should look at Edwardsville.
OK, so it’s a little “bougie hoosie,” and your kids better brace themselves for Drive Your Tractor to School Day (yes, it’s a thing).

But Edwardsville is the closest thing the Metro East has to St. Louis’ affluent Missouri suburbs. Not only is every third person here a lawyer, but you’ll find lots of young families and nice newer homes. Indie St. Louis restaurants like Chava’s, Sauce on the Side and Clementine’s have opened here — joining Cleveland-Heath, long one of the better restaurants in the entire metro.

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like Des Peres….
Try Glen Carbon.
In Des Peres, you’re used to being in Kirkwood’s shadow and Glen Carbon has a similar relationship with Edwardsville. No need for an inferiority complex: Both cities are genuinely nice, especially if you’re into cul-de-sacs and a pleasant suburban lifestyle.

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FLICKR/MIKE KALASNIK

If you like Brentwood….
Think about Fairview Heights.
It’s got every chain store you could ever want, decent schools and a mall. Heaven for suburbanites!

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FLICKR/PRAY IT NO PHOTOGRAPHY

If you like Chesterfield….
Your jam may be O’Fallon, Illinois.
Not to be confused with MO’Fallon, O’Fallon, Illinois, has all the suburban amenities you could desire, from a huge soccer complex to a huge rec center to a giant indoor driving range. Sound familiar? Plus, they’ve got some decent bars and Peel Pizza.

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like Crestwood….
Try Collinsville.
Yes, it’s known for that giant ketchup bottle and something to do with horseradish. But at its heart Collinsville is a relatively affordable town with a population that’s slowly becoming more diverse and a dead mall. Does that ring a bell?

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FLICKR/DOUG KERR

If you like Eureka.….
Take a look at Troy.
It’s got two truck stops, five churches and every fast food restaurant your heart could ever desire. Thanks to that great highway access, it’s also only 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis. Good for people on the go.

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SCREENSHOT

If you like Festus.…
Mosey over to Highland.
OK, so this may not be a true-blue liberal’s dream. They’re probably banning the same books here as in Jefferson County. But they’ve got some big-ass demolition derbies at the Highland Speedway. Who could resist?

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like St. Ann….
Check out Granite City.
This blue-collar enclave for steel mill workers has seen better days, but the housing is affordable. And hey, there are two roller rinks!

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FLICKR/PAUL SABLEMAN

If you like Tower Grove South.…
Maybe just go straight to Chicago.
We hate to break it to you, but nowhere in the Metro East is as reflexively progressive as the neighborhoods around Tower Grove Park. If you truly want a place where people share your values, you might have to move a lot farther north — like, say, Andersonville.

Or you can change hearts and minds one neighborly conversation at a time. You won’t be the only St. Louisan resettling in the Metro East. You may just start a movement.

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