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Best Neighborhoods in St. Louis for Families

Thinking about moving to St. Louis with your family? The Gateway to the West offers affordable housing options, plenty of family-friendly activities, highly-rated schools, and more. Check out these top five neighborhoods in St. Louis for families!

Neighborhood Hi Pointe Lindenwood Park North Hampton Shaw Skinker DeBaliviere
Median Home Price $173,267 $166,750 $165,910 $281,900 $306,967
Median Rent Price $848 $967 $907 $959 $1,162
Median Household Income $66,613 $66,158 $57,118 $75,439 $67,465
Safer than % of City  

94%

 

 

86%

 

 

81%

 

 

80%

 

 

58%

 

High School Graduation Rate 93% 91% 90% 89% 90%

Hi-Pointe

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The Hi-Pointe neighborhood has a median purchase price of $173,267 and a median monthly rent of $848. This neighborhood is safer than 94% of the city.

One of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis, it’s no surprise that Hi-Pointe is also considered one of the most family-friendly places to live in St. Louis! Commonly grouped together with Franz Park and Clayton-Tamm to form an area referred to as “Dogtown,” Hi-Pointe is located just south of Forest Park. This safe, close-knit community offers renovated bungalows and historic brick homes, and is known for its Irish heritage and events like the Hibernian St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In addition, Hi-Pointe is close to excellent schools within the School District of Clayton like Glenridge Elementary School and Clayton High School, as well as top universities like Washington University in St. Louis and Concordia Seminary.

Things to Do in Hi-Pointe

Hike, bike, or bird-watch with the family at Kennedy Forest. Bring the kids to events like Boo at the Zoo, Wild Lights, Breakfast with Santa, and more at the Saint Louis Zoo. Peruse art exhibits or complete an art project when you attend Family Sundays at one of the best museums in St. Louis, the Saint Louis Art Museum. Enjoy a movie night at Hi-Pointe Theatre to watch a new release or vintage classic. Go out for Double Burgers, Sweet Potato Tots, and Dreamsicle Milkshakes at Hi-Pointe Drive-In. Listen to live music on Fridays while sampling the Burger of the Week or a Cod Sandwich at Seamus McDaniel’s. Have Warm Mixed Olives, Mushroom & Truffle Pizza, and Mafalda at sleek gastropub Basso. Or grab a chair by the fireplace for date night and order Coventry Fish & Chips, Bangers and Mashed, or Shepards Pie at Fox & Hounds Tavern.

Graphic shows things to do in Hi-Pointe including going to the zoo, museums, live music, and restaurants.

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Lindenwood Park

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The Lindenwood neighborhood has a median purchase price of $166,750 and a median monthly rent of $967. This neighborhood is safer than 86% of the city.

Lindenwood Park is one of the best St. Louis neighborhoods for families seeking a quieter, more suburban lifestyle. Not only does Lindenwood Park rank as one of the safest and most affordable St. Louis neighborhoods and boast affordable housing options ranging from brick bungalows to gingerbread-style homes, but it’s also close to several charter and magnet schools—including Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis – Smiley, Mallinckrodt Academy of Gifted Instruction, and more.

Things to Do in Lindenwood Park

Walk the trails, play tennis, and find other fun family things to do in St. Louis at the neighborhood’s namesake, Lindenwood Park. Shop new and vintage comics, trading cards, and toys at All American Collectables. Take the whole family bowling or join a league at Shrewsbury Lanes. Try to tackle the Wizard Quest, Vanished, or Carnival of the Cosmos escape room at Escape From St. Louis. Taste comforting ramen dishes like Tantanmen, Chicken Shoyu, or Original Aburasoba at Menya Rui. Have farm-to-table eats at FarmHaus Restaurant and try menu items that rotate daily, such as Shrimp Squash Bisque, Pierogi & Gravlax, and Louisiana Black Drum. Devour some Italian dishes like Chicken Saltimbocca, Veal Marsala, and Grilled Salmon Primavera at Pietro’s. Or treat yourself to sundaes like the Dutchman Delight, Muddy Mississippi, or Lemon Crumb at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.

Graphic shows things to do in Lindenwood Park including going shopping, going to parks, bowling, and eating at restaurants.

North Hampton

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The North Hampton neighborhood has a median purchase price of $165,910 and a median monthly rent of $907. This neighborhood is safer than 81% of the city.

Families looking for good communities to live in St. Louis should check out North Hampton! This quiet and close-knit St. Louis area offers brick Tudor homes that are perfect for growing families. Parents will appreciate close proximity to top-rated schools for children like South City Catholic Academy, Premier Charter School, Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis – Middle, and Gateway Science Academy Of St. Louis – High. Not to mention, there are a variety of green spaces in the area to explore—including Sublette Park, which offers tennis courts, a playground, and other fun things to do in St. Louis for families!

Things to Do in North Hampton

Play in the splash pad, challenge friends to a game of soccer, or have a picnic at Tilles Park—one of the best places for free family fun in St. Louis! Shop for authentic vintage clothing, jewelry, purses, shoes, and more at Vintage Haberdashery. Visit one of the best local art galleries in St. Louis during exhibit hours and admire the Contemporary art collection while listening to live music at 31art Gallery. Volunteer, find a new book to read, or attend Storytime events for children at Buder Library. Looking for coffee shops in St. Louis? Start your day with a cup of Espresso, or try an Earl Grey Tea or Matcha from Pipers Tea & Coffee. Savor Indian dishes like Veggie Pakora, Lamb Curry, or Tandoori Chicken at Himalayan Yeti. Enjoy Chicken Tenders with Fries, the 1/2 lb Big Boy Steakburger, or a Catfish Fillet Dinner at Miami Grill. Or head out for date night and order the Smoked Tandoori Wings or Southside Smash Burger with a Luna Roja cocktail at Prohibition-era art deco bar The Golden Hoosier.

Graphic shows things to do in North Hampton including going shopping, going to the library, art galleries, parks, and restaurants.

Shaw

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The Shaw neighborhood has a median purchase price of $281,900 and a median monthly rent of $959. This neighborhood is safer than 80% of the city.

When considering the best neighborhoods in St. Louis to move to with your family, don’t pass up on Shaw! With large American Foursquare and Victorian-style homes, community events like the Historic Shaw Art Fair, good walkability, and well-rated schools like Mullanphy-Botanical Garden ILC and St. Margaret of Scotland School, it’s easy to see why this historical neighborhood is one of the best places to live in St. Louis for families. In addition, Shaw is just north of Tower Grove Park, where you can spend time outdoors and find fun family activities in St. Louis—including the Tower Grove Farmers Market!

Things to Do in Shaw

Tour the Missouri Botanical Garden and see art sculptures from different themed areas like the Children’s Garden, Japanese Garden, and Linnean House. Let your furry friend run and play at one of the best membership-only St. Louis dog parks, Shaw Dog Park. Get a relaxing massage or try out a yoga class at ALIGN Massage & Yoga Studio. Teach the kids how to play tennis, let them explore the playground, or climb to the top of the historic water tower for spectacular views of the city at Compton Hill Reservoir Park. Start the day with a Cold Brew, Moon Goddess Ube, and Chickpea Toast from Fiddlehead Fern Cafe. Order The Classic Burger or unique burger creations like the Maple Bacon Crunch or Ballpark Pretzel at Baileys’ Range. Go out for date night and have the Baby New Zealand Lamb Chops or Shaw Burger with a glass of white or red wine at Sasha’s on Shaw. Or try flash-churned nitro ice cream flavors like Peanut Butter Chocolate, Cherry Cordial, and Rocky Road from Ices Plain & Fancy.

Graphic shows things to do in Shaw including going shopping, going to gardens, dog parks, the farmers market, and restaurants.

Skinker DeBaliviere

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The Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood has a median purchase price of $306,967 and a median monthly rent of $1,162. This neighborhood is safer than 58% of the city.

Located north of Forest Park near Wash U, Skinker DeBaliviere is one of the best areas to live in St. Louis for families. Not only are there great schools like St. Roch Catholic School and Hamilton Elementary School nearby, but this family-friendly area also has a wide range of affordable housing options, including large Tudor and American Foursquare houses. Skinker DeBaliviere is also close to The Delmar Loop in University City, where families can find all kinds of local shopping, dining, and kid-friendly entertainment options.

Things to Do in Skinker DeBaliviere

Discover free things to do in St. Louis with kids like the “community concert walk,” PorchFest STL. Play one of the three 9-hole courses at Forest Park Golf Course. Visit the Missouri History Museum to explore exhibits like The 1904 World’s Fair, Seeking St. Louis, and the History Clubhouse. See indie music acts like Grouplove, Blue October, and Dashboard Confessional perform at The Pageant. Schedule your child’s birthday party at retro-themed bowling alley, Pin-Up Bowl—a top attraction in St. Louis for families. Try different ramen bowls like Nami Signature Tonkotsu, Jigoku, and Volcano Ramen from Nami Ramen. Go to Mack’s Bar & Grill for tasty bites like the Hot N’ Spicy Burger, Mega Meats Pizza, or Loaded Nachos. Or visit the K-Bop STL food truck-turned-Korean restaurant and try their signature Cup Bops with Teriyaki Chicken or Pork Katsu.

Graphic shows things to do in Skinker DeBaliviere including going golfing, visiting the history museum, attending live music, and going to restaurants.

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The goal of Extra Space Storage’s Best Places to Live selections is to help diverse audiences at varying stages of life make informed decisions about where to live. To provide a well-rounded and accurate view of each metro area, we consider factors like cost of living, job market, local attractions, education, and more. Learn more about our methodology today.

Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes

Mike Beutler

About Mike Beutler

Mike Beutler is a writer and digital content specialist who transitioned to self storage in 2020 after several years in the airline industry. His travels cultivated a passion for exploring cities across the U.S. and abroad and inspired him to learn more about practical insights for urban living. With 14 moves under his belt, both locally and cross-country, he also has a passion for minimalism and organization, and sharing tips to help others make any space feel like home while staying organized.