The St. Louis skyline at golden hour with the Gateway Arch

Your Relocation Guide to the St. Louis & St. Charles Area

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The Gateway Realty Group team

Moving across the country is a leap. Here is the honest, ground-level view of life across St. Louis and St. Charles. The good, the bad, and the parts Google won't tell you. From the local team that helps people make this exact move every week.

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You don't have to read the whole guide first. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll come back with honest answers about the areas, the price ranges, and what your budget actually gets you here.

  • A real person on our team replies, not an auto-responder
  • Honest advice, even when it costs us a sale
  • We help out-of-state buyers plan focused visits

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Meet the Team

You are not hiring one agent. You are hiring an entire St. Louis team, Gateway Realty Group. We run the Living St. Louis channel. We'll give you honest advice, even when it costs us a sale. If a house is a bad fit for what you want, we'll tell you.

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Madison Hayes, Real Estate Professional

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Kellie Lasater

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Tracy Sanders

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Mindy Bushman

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Lana Prinster

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Candy Smothers

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Kate Wilhelms, Marketing & Operations

Kate Wilhelms

Marketing & Operations

Jacob Peistrup, Content & Media

Jacob Peistrup

Content & Media

Client Reviews

People Trust Us With the Move

We work with a lot of out-of-state buyers. Many find us through the Living St. Louis channel. Here is what making the move with our team looks like.

"We relocated from another state and our agent went over and above to help. She educated us on the differences between communities, which let us choose the perfect area for our family. Jacob's YouTube videos familiarized us before we even arrived. We bought in a crazy market and still closed on the perfect home in two months."
Relocated from out of state Tim & Kristina K.
"We moved from Michigan and did not know the St. Louis area. They showed us so many places and worked with us until we found the perfect home. Tracy was always available and worked overtime for us. From offer to close was a week and a half."
Moved from Michigan Andrew T.

Is St. Louis Right for You?

St. Louis is a city of contrast. Growing fast in some places, thinning out in others. Brand-new subdivisions a few miles from century-old brick. You want the tradeoffs from someone who lives here, not the week after the moving truck is unpacked. Here is the honest version.

The St. Louis skyline

What People Love

Your money goes a long way

Housing and everyday costs sit well below the national average for a major metro. It's realistic to find an updated three or four-bedroom home with 1,500 to 3,000 square feet in the $200,000s to low $300,000s across much of the City and the suburbs. Buyers from expensive cities are usually shocked by what they can afford here.

An unbelievable amount of variety

Few regions pack this much range into one metro. You can choose a walkable historic block in Lafayette Square or Soulard, an upscale suburb like Ladue or Town and Country, or a fast-growing new-build town like Wentzville or Cottleville. The good news is the options. The bad news: choosing one is overwhelming.

Top-tier arts and culture (for free)

The Saint Louis Art Museum, the History Museum, the Zoo, and the Botanical Garden, plus a major symphony, independent theaters, and dozens of music venues. Several of the best attractions, including the zoo and the art museum, are free to walk into.

A serious food city

St. Louis takes its food personally, from James Beard nominees to hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints locals swear by. Try the local canon, including toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, St. Louis style ribs, and Provel-topped pizza that you will either love or hate.

Rich history and beautiful architecture

The City wears its history proudly in red brick homes, historic churches, and castle-like mansions from the late 1800s. The housing stock has real craftsmanship and character you simply cannot get in newer cities, and there are active preservation communities keeping it alive.

New construction across the suburbs

St. Louis is not only historic, but it is growing (slowly). New construction is going up fast in Chesterfield, O'Fallon, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville, with everything from townhomes in the $200,000s to custom homes over $3 million. St. Charles County has the most of it by far.

Light traffic for a major metro

If you are coming from a bigger city, you'll love the short commute times. You can often get from downtown to most surrounding towns in 30 to 40 minutes. The same 40 miles that takes 45 minutes here would take hours in Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York.

What You May Not Like

Weather that swings to extremes

Locals joke we get twelve seasons, not four... sometimes all in one week. Expect fake springs, sticky and sweaty summers, the occasional blizzard, and a real tornado and hail season in spring. The weather can be like a roller coaster.

The City of St. Louis is declining

While many suburbs grow, the urban core has struggled with population decline, vacant buildings, and businesses moving out. People are not necessarily leaving the metro; they are leaving the city, and that has strained some public services, infrastructure, and schools. Some neighborhoods are mid-comeback thanks to local investment. Others remain a ghost town.

Parts of the City are block by block

Certain areas show long-term neglect, with abandoned buildings, rough streets, and potholes, while others turn around quickly. You can find a $2 million home and walk two blocks to dilapidated homes. If you are considering the City, you want a local who knows it street by street.

Big city, small town mindset

For a metro of nearly three million, St. Louis can feel like a small town. People have deep roots, and adults really do ask which high school you went to. Breaking into established social circles takes some effort, but newcomers absolutely do it through neighborhoods, kids' activities, and rec leagues.

You will need a car

There is light rail and bus service centered on the City and the airport, but the region is built around driving. On the bright side, traffic around St. Louis is pretty mild.

Historic brick and detail
Historic brick and detail
New construction in the suburbs
New construction in the suburbs
Weather that keeps you on your toes AI-Generated Image
Weather that keeps you on your toes

The Real Pros and Cons of Moving to St. Louis (2026)

We made the video we wish every newcomer would watch. It is the unfiltered take, straight from the realty group that lives here and sells homes here.

A Simple Timeline for Your Move

Relocating can feel overwhelming, so we broke it into stages. Here is the path most of our out-of-state buyers follow.

  1. 1

    90+ Days Out

    • Research areas and start narrowing your shortlist
    • Connect with us to start house hunting
    • Get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know your numbers
  2. 2

    30 to 60 Days Out

    • Schedule a visit and tour neighborhoods in person
    • Walk your top areas at different times of day
    • Narrow down your home criteria and must-haves
    • Write an offer when you find the right home
  3. 3

    Move Week

    • Set up utilities at your new address
    • File your change of address with the post office
    • Handle school enrollment for the kids
    • Plan for your Missouri driver's license, which is required within 30 days
  4. 4

    Your First 30 Days

    • Explore your new neighborhood on foot
    • Get a library card and find your coffee shop
    • Introduce yourself to a few neighbors
    • Reach out to us when you need anything post-closing

Have questions about any of these steps? We have walked dozens of out-of-state buyers through this exact process, and we are glad to help with yours.

Talk to Our Team

Get Your Bearings

St. Louis is really a metro made of distinct pieces, split by two rivers and one quirk of geography that trips up almost every newcomer. Here is the quick mental map.

Map of the St. Louis metro: the City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and the Metro East
The metro at a glance: the independent City, St. Louis County, fast-growing St. Charles County, and the Illinois side known as the Metro East.
Map of all the municipalities across the St. Louis region, by county
Every municipality across the region. St. Louis County alone holds more than 90 of them.

The One Thing to Understand First

The City of St. Louis is not part of St. Louis County. It is an independent city, fully separate, with its own government, taxes, and school district. This catches people off guard.

City of St. Louis

79 historic neighborhoods, walkable, its own jurisdiction.

St. Louis County

90+ separate municipalities, where most newcomers land.

Then there is St. Charles County to the west, growing fast, and the Illinois side, known locally as the Metro East.

The Heart of the Midwest

St. Louis sits close to everything. A surprising share of the Midwest is within a day's drive, which makes weekend trips and family visits easy.

Kansas City, MO
3.5 hrs
Indianapolis, IN
4 hrs
Louisville, KY
4 hrs
Chicago, IL
4.5 hrs
Memphis, TN
4.5 hrs
Nashville, TN
5 hrs
Des Moines, IA
5.5 hrs
Omaha, NE
6.5 hrs

A Quick Look Around the Region

From historic brick in the city to estates, new builds, and lakefront living, here is a taste of the range.

Central West End, Central Corridor
Central West End Central Corridor
Soulard, City of St. Louis
Soulard City of St. Louis
Lafayette Square, City of St. Louis
Lafayette Square City of St. Louis
Clayton, Mid County
Clayton Mid County
Ladue, Mid County
Ladue Mid County
Chesterfield, West County
Chesterfield West County
Cottleville, St. Charles County
Cottleville St. Charles County
Lake St. Louis, St. Charles County
Lake St. Louis St. Charles County
Defiance, Rural St. Charles County
Defiance Rural St. Charles County

Explore the Areas

St. Louis is really a collection of distinct areas, each with its own feel and tradeoffs. Use the filters to sort them by what matters to you. We never hide an area, because the right call is yours to make.

Central Corridor, St. Louis areaCentral West EndCentral CorridorCity energy, on tree-lined streets

This is where city and suburb blend together. The Central Corridor runs from Forest Park through Clayton, and it holds some of the most architecturally rich blocks in the region, where old money, new money, and the region's biggest institutions all share the same few zip codes. You get walkable streets, high-rise condos, and historic mansions, with WashU, BJC, and Cortex right there.

Great if you want

  • A true city-and-suburb hybrid lifestyle
  • Architecturally rich neighborhoods with real character
  • Walkable blocks full of local shops and dining
  • Quick commute to WashU, BJC, Cortex, and downtown
  • Forest Park and the region's best museums at your doorstep
Mid County, St. Louis areaBrentwoodMid CountyEstablished prestige, minutes from downtown

Mid County is the established, prestigious core of St. Louis County: Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, and Creve Coeur. It's the most expensive area in St. Louis. You get classic architecture on beautiful streets, several of the region's most sought-after school districts, and high-end shopping and dining, with Clayton doubling as the county's business hub. It sits about fifteen minutes from downtown, and the price tags reflect all of it. Mid County is close to everything.

Great if you want

  • Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, and Creve Coeur
  • Classic architecture on established, leafy streets
  • Some of the region's most sought-after school districts
  • High-end shopping and dining, with Clayton as the county's business hub
  • Roughly fifteen minutes from downtown
North City, St. Louis areaNorth CityDeep history, real potential

North City is the honest one. It carries deep history and beautiful brick architecture, and it is seeing slow, real reinvestment led by community groups, local businesses, and the new NGA campus. It also still bears the scars of decades of disinvestment, so this is block-by-block territory where a local who knows it matters. For buyers who can see potential and want low entry prices, there is genuine opportunity here, but do your due diligence.

Great if you want

  • Investment potential and renovation-ready properties
  • Low entry prices for historic brick homes
  • Near the new NGA campus and Downtown St. Louis
  • Active community reinvestment and local pride
  • Best explored block by block with a local
North County, St. Louis areaFlorissantNorth CountyEstablished and seriously affordable

North County is well-established and remarkably affordable, with some of the lowest price points in St. Louis County. You will find mid-century ranches, split-levels, and larger homes on spacious lots, with a few pockets of new construction mixed in. It feels settled and grounded, the kind of place people stay for decades, and it is close to the airport and major employers.

Great if you want

  • Some of the most affordable price points in St. Louis County
  • Ranch, split-level, and mid-century homes
  • Close to the airport and major employers
  • Long-established, settled neighborhoods
  • Strong value for first-time buyers
Outer Counties + Metro East, St. Louis areaSt. Paul, MOOuter Counties + Metro EastAffordable, off the beaten path

Out past the suburbs, the metro opens into rural Missouri and the Illinois side known as the Metro East. Lincoln, Warren, Franklin, and Jefferson counties offer land, lower prices, and a small-town pace, and they draw buyers who want acreage or room to build. The trade-off is the commute, which can run 40 to 90 minutes to downtown, so it tends to suit remote workers and people who value space over proximity.

Great if you want

  • Lincoln, Warren, Franklin, and Jefferson counties in Missouri, plus Metro East in Illinois
  • Rural living with more land and lower prices
  • A longer commute to downtown, roughly 40 to 90 minutes
  • Popular with buyers who want acreage or a small-town pace
  • Room to build, garden, or spread out
South City, St. Louis areaTower Grove SouthSouth CityUrban character, historic bones

South City is classic St. Louis: red brick homes, covered porches, tree-lined streets, and neighborhoods that each feel a little different. Hundred-year-old homes sit steps from breweries, taco joints, and farmers markets, and the parks here, like Tower Grove, are some of the best in the city. South City is walkable, full of character, and has some of the strongest value per square foot you will find.

Great if you want

  • Red brick homes with original detail and craftsmanship
  • Walkable, bike-friendly, and dog-friendly blocks
  • Locally owned restaurants, bars, and global cuisine
  • Community events, farmers markets, and park festivals
  • Some of the best value per square foot in the city
South County, St. Louis areaGrantwood VillageSouth CountySuburban comfort, closer to the city

South County is practical, peaceful, and close to everything, without the price tags you will find farther west. It sits closer to the city than West County and tends to be more affordable than Mid County, with well-established neighborhoods where people stay for decades. Expect brick ranches, mid-century styles, split-levels, and newer pockets, plus quick access to I-44 and I-55.

Great if you want

  • More affordable than West County for similar space
  • Established neighborhoods with long-time residents
  • Quick access to I-44 and I-55
  • Closer to the city than St. Charles County
  • Parks, trails, and the bluffs along the Mississippi
St. Charles County, St. Louis areaO'FallonSt. Charles CountyNew everything, growing fast

St. Charles County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Missouri, and it shows. New master-planned communities, new schools, new shopping, and new subdivisions are going up everywhere, which makes it the go-to if you want a bigger, newer home for less than the same house would cost in West County. It also has the most new-construction options anywhere in the region, from O'Fallon and Wentzville to Cottleville and Lake St. Louis, with rural pockets like Foristell and Defiance on the edges.

Great if you want

  • The most new construction options in the region
  • Fast-growing, with new schools, parks, and shopping
  • More house for your money than West County
  • Popular towns like O'Fallon, Wentzville, Cottleville, and Lake St. Louis
  • Highly rated school districts and family amenities
West County, St. Louis areaWest CountySpacious, family-oriented suburbs

West County is what most people picture when they imagine the suburbs: tree-lined streets, larger homes, highly-rated schools, and quiet subdivisions with pools and tennis courts. You'll need a car everywhere you go. It is polished without being flashy, and it consistently ranks among the most sought-after parts of the region. Towns like Chesterfield, Ballwin, and Wildwood give you space and stability with easy access to the city.

Great if you want

  • Rolling hills, big backyards, and room to spread out
  • Highly-rated public schools and lots of outdoor recreation
  • Queeny Park trails, Chesterfield Valley, and Wildwood
  • Towns like Chesterfield, Ballwin, and Wildwood
  • Easy access to shopping and Highway 64/40

Watch Before You Move

Rather than a wall of videos, here are our YouTube playlists, grouped by area and topic. Pick the one that fits where you are in your move and keep watching the channel.

Living St. Louis

Gateway Realty Group

Moving to St. Louis playlist Playlist

Moving to St. Louis

Living St. Louis
Mid County playlist Playlist

Mid County

Living St. Louis
West County playlist Playlist

West County

Living St. Louis
St. Charles County playlist Playlist

St. Charles County

Living St. Louis
House Tours playlist Playlist

House Tours

Living St. Louis
Mortgage Hacks playlist Playlist

Mortgage Hacks

Living St. Louis
View all videos

Your Money Goes Further Here

St. Louis is one of the most affordable major metros in the country, and you'll notice it the second you start scrolling Zillow. Here are some examples of what your budget buys across the region. Prices move with the market; these are just examples of homes we've sold recently.

Real homes we have sold across the St. Louis area

Under $300K

$195K home in South City
$195K South City
$245K home in West County townhome
$245K West County townhome
$250K home in Maryland Heights ranch
$250K Maryland Heights ranch
$282K home in O'Fallon villa
$282K O'Fallon villa
  • An updated ranch or split-level in North or South County
  • A character brick home in many South City neighborhoods
  • A starter home or townhome in St. Charles County towns like O'Fallon
  • More house than you can buy for this price on the East or West Coast

$300K to $750K

$355K home in South City
$355K South City
$530K home in O'Fallon
$530K O'Fallon
$610K home in Chesterfield
$610K Chesterfield
$690K home in Richmond Heights townhome
$690K Richmond Heights townhome
  • New construction in St. Charles County with modern finishes
  • A larger established or move-up home in West or South County
  • A renovated historic home in a sought-after city neighborhood
  • Access to many of the region's top-rated school districts

$750K and up

$760K home in Lake St. Louis
$760K Lake St. Louis
$865K home in Webster Groves
$865K Webster Groves
$1.3M home in Richmond Heights
$1.3M Richmond Heights
$1.43M home in Defiance, on acreage
$1.43M Defiance, on acreage
  • Spacious new construction with upgrades and larger lots
  • Established homes in Mid County's most desirable districts, like Ladue and Clayton
  • Larger acreage or custom builds in the outer counties, like Defiance and Wildwood
  • Luxury condos and historic estates in the Central Corridor

How It Compares

Against fast-growing peer cities, St. Louis consistently comes out ahead on affordability. A housing budget that feels tight in Chicago, Denver, or Nashville tends to go noticeably further here, often the difference between a starter home and a move-in-ready home with a yard. Lower housing costs are the headline, and the savings carry through to property taxes and day-to-day living as well.

Figures shift with the market. We are happy to pull current, area-specific numbers for your exact budget whenever you are ready.

Luxury Representation

A Luxury Market With Real Range

St. Louis luxury real estate covers far more ground than most people expect. We've represented buyers and sellers across the entire high-end of the market, and some of the best homes never hit Zillow at all. Helping clients find off-market and pre-market opportunities is where we do some of our best work.

$3M, Custom home in Wildwood
$3M Custom home in Wildwood
$3M, Custom home in O'Fallon
$3M Custom home in O'Fallon
$2.1M, Equestrian estate in Wentzville
$2.1M Equestrian estate in Wentzville
$1.8M, Luxury home in Defiance
$1.8M Luxury home in Defiance
$1.7M, Modern farmhouse in Kirkwood
$1.7M Modern farmhouse in Kirkwood
$1.5M, Custom home in Foristell
$1.5M Custom home in Foristell

A large share of the area's best luxury homes sell quietly, off-market. If that is the kind of private access you want, that's where we excel. We'd love to show you options.

Ask About Off-Market

Top STL Sectors for Work

One of the first questions every relocator asks: What's the job market like? St. Louis is not a one-industry town, which is part of why it stays so stable. The economy spans healthcare, bioscience, finance, defense, ag-tech, and a growing startup scene, with several Fortune 500 companies headquartered right here.

Healthcare & Bioscience

Anchored by BJC HealthCare and Washington University Medical Center, with a growing biotech corridor around the Cortex Innovation District.

  • BJC HealthCare
  • SSM Health
  • Mercy
  • Express Scripts (Cigna)

Financial Services

A deep bench of finance and insurance names, several headquartered here, with steady demand in banking, wealth management, and reinsurance. Edward Jones is headquartered in West County.

  • Edward Jones
  • Stifel Financial
  • Reinsurance Group of America
  • Commerce Bank

Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing

Boeing runs major defense and aviation operations in North County and is one of the largest employers in the region, alongside deep manufacturing roots.

  • Boeing Defense, Space & Security
  • Emerson Electric
  • Copeland
  • GM Wentzville Assembly

Ag-Tech & Food Science

St. Louis is a national hub for agricultural innovation, anchored by the 39 North AgTech District and the Danforth Plant Science Center.

  • Bayer Crop Science
  • Nestlé Purina PetCare
  • Anheuser-Busch InBev
  • MilliporeSigma

Technology & Startups

The Cortex Innovation Community and the T-REX incubator downtown fuel a rising tech scene, especially in geospatial and financial tech.

  • World Wide Technology
  • Mastercard
  • Cortex Innovation District
  • T-REX incubator

Logistics & Transportation

St. Louis offers a central location in the Midwest, major rail hubs, river access, and a global air gateway, making the region a national distribution and logistics center.

  • Enterprise Mobility
  • Lambert International Airport
  • Graybar Electric
  • Schnuck Markets

A short commute and a low cost of living mean a St. Louis salary tends to stretch further than the same paycheck in LA, New York, and Chicago. We are glad to connect you with people in your field once you're here.

What Does Daily Life Look Like?

Stats and price ranges only tell you so much. This is the part of the move people really wonder about: what a normal Tuesday feels like once the boxes are unpacked. Here is the reality of day-to-day life in St. Louis.

Your Mornings Kaldi's Coffee, Kirkwood

Your Mornings

Coffee culture here is local and serious, with neighborhood roasters in nearly every part of town. A lot of people start the day with a walk or run through Forest Park, which is larger than Central Park in NYC and is free to everyone. The commute that follows is short enough that driving is rarely the reason you run late.

How People Eat Toasted ravioli

How People Eat

St. Louis takes its food very seriously, from frozen custard and toasted ravioli to a serious and great restaurant scene. Every neighborhood has its institutions, and locals will argue passionately about the best version of everything. The best part is how affordable a great meal still is here.

Your Weekends City Museum

Your Weekends

Cardinals baseball is very popular, and a summer night at the ballpark is a rite of passage. Beyond that you have the Arch grounds, miles of trails, the City Museum, and wine country and river float trips within an easy drive. You will not run out of things to do on a Saturday.

Finding Your People Tower Grove Park

Finding Your People

People here have deep roots, which sounds intimidating to a newcomer until you see how it cuts the other way. Join a neighborhood group, a church, a rec league, or your kids' school community, and people fold you in fast. The welcome is genuine once you are in, and most transplants are surprised by how quickly this place starts to feel like home when you meet the right people.

You Get to Enjoy Your Evenings Chesterfield

You Get to Enjoy Your Evenings

The thing people do not expect to love is that their evenings come back. Without a big-city grind between you and home, you make it to dinner, the kids' games, and a life outside of work. After years of long hauls to and from the office, that reclaimed time alone sells a lot of transplants on staying.

Have questions about the move?

Tell us what you are thinking. Our team will help you think it through, with no pressure.

Talk to Us

We Joke We Have 12 Seasons

And it's not really a joke. Here is the truth most guides skip. St. Louis does not really do four seasons. It is a roller coaster, and locals joke that we get about twelve of them. Here is the real cycle, so nothing catches you off guard.

Fake Spring Missouri Botanical Garden

Fake Spring

It will hit 60 degrees in February and trick you into thinking winter is over. Then it snows again. The weather here loves to fake you out before it commits to spring.

Storm Season

Storm Season

Real spring is gorgeous, with everything in bloom by April. It is also tornado and hail season. It sometimes rains for weeks at a time. The hail is no joke and can dent cars and damage roofs, so you learn to keep an eye on the sky.

Sauna Summer Lake St. Louis

Sauna Summer

Most of summer is hot and humid, the sticky kind where air conditioning is non-negotiable. It is also pool days, Cardinals nights, and festivals, so locals learn to lean into it.

The Payoff: Real Fall Lake St. Louis

The Payoff: Real Fall

September teases a cool-down, then it can swing back into the 80s through October. But once real fall lands before Halloween, it is the best stretch of the year, with crisp air and real color. The leaves changing color are beautiful.

Mild Winter, Icy January Chesterfield

Mild Winter, Icy January

November and December are usually just chilly without much snow. Then January turns snowy and icy, and it is the season everyone seems to catch a cold. A good coat and some patience will get you through.

One local tip: take the weather app with a grain of salt. It will promise tornadoes & hail and deliver sunshine instead, or the other way around. You learn to roll with it.

Start Your Saturday Morning At the Farmers Market

One of the fastest ways to feel at home here is to find your farmers' market. St. Louis takes them seriously, and nearly every county and neighborhood has one. Here is a county-by-county rundown, with the 2026 seasons we could confirm.

The Soulard Farmers Market in St. Louis
Soulard Market

St. Louis City

5 markets
Soulard Farmers Market

Soulard

Wednesday through Saturday

Year-round
Tower Grove Farmers' Market

Tower Grove Park

Saturdays, plus Tuesdays in summer

April through November
North City Farmers' Market

Old North St. Louis

Saturdays

Late May through October
Market on McPherson

Central West End

Last Sunday of the month

March through December
Francis Park Farmers' Market

St. Louis Hills

Thursdays

May through September

St. Louis County

8 markets
Kirkwood Farmers' Market

Kirkwood

Daily

Late March through October
Ferguson Farmers Market

Ferguson

Saturdays

May through October
University City Farmers Market

University City, Heman Park

Saturdays and Thursdays

May through November
The Boulevard Farmers' Market

Richmond Heights

Sundays

May through October
Wildwood Farmers' Market

Wildwood

Saturdays

May through October
Creve Coeur Farmers Market

Creve Coeur

Saturdays

May through October
S.O.L. Food Farmers Market

Maplewood

Wednesdays

May through October
Fenton Community & Farmers' Market

Fenton

Thursdays

May through September

St. Charles County

4 markets
Lake St. Louis Farmers' & Artists' Market

Lake St. Louis

Saturdays

April through October
The Saint Charles Market

St. Charles, Main Street

Saturdays

April through November
Farmers & Artisans Market of O'Fallon

O'Fallon

Sundays

May through October
New Melle Country Market

New Melle

Saturdays

May through October

Jefferson County

4 markets
Arnold Farmers Market

Arnold, City Park

Saturdays

May through October
Festus Farmers Market

Festus

Saturdays

April through October
De Soto Farmers Market

De Soto

Saturdays

May through October
Hillsboro Farmers Market

Hillsboro

Wednesdays

May through October

Seasons shift a little year to year, and a market can pause, like Webster Groves did in 2026, so the linked page is always the final word. Hours and dates are for the 2026 season, where we could verify them.

Questions Newcomers Always Ask

Straight answers to what people email us most before they make the move.

Do I Need to Visit Before I Buy?

You don't have to, but we strongly recommend it. A weekend spent walking a few neighborhoods at different times of day tells you more than any online listing ever will. We help out-of-state buyers plan focused visits so the trip moves the decision forward. We can show you homes in different areas so you can compare them easily.

Can I Tour Homes Virtually?

Yes. We can do video walkthroughs all the time. We'll FaceTime and Zoom with you if you're unable to house-hunt in person, and we'll provide plenty of video footage. We strongly recommend attending the inspections in person so our inspectors can walk you through everything face-to-face and help you decide whether to proceed with the purchase.

City or County, Which Should I Choose?

It depends on what you want. The City of St. Louis offers historic, walkable neighborhoods and its own independent government and schools. The City also has a 1% earnings tax if you live OR work in the city. St. Louis County is where most newcomers land, with dozens of suburbs and highly rated districts. We walk you through the trade-offs on taxes, schools, and lifestyle.

How Is the Job Market?

Diverse and stable. It really depends on what industry you're in. The region is anchored by healthcare, bioscience, finance, defense, and a growing tech scene, with several Fortune 500 headquarters here. It is not a one-industry town, which is a big part of why the local economy holds steady through ups and downs.

What About Schools?

School quality varies by district, and districts can change block to block, especially across the City and County line. Tell us what matters to your family, and we will point you to the right resources to compare districts objectively before you settle on an area. There are plenty of private schools, too.

How Bad Are the Winters and the Storms?

They can be rough for a few weeks at a time, but the whole winter is usually milder. It's not as rough as the map makes it look, but do not expect four tidy seasons. Locals joke we get about twelve, sometimes in the same week: a fake spring in February, a real storm and hail season, humid summers, a gorgeous fall, and a snowy, icy stretch in January. People here treat severe weather with calm routine instead of panic, and a good basement helps.

Will I Need a Car?

For most of the region, yes, it's a good idea. But we've had clients manage without a car here. There is light rail and bus service centered on the city and the airport, but the suburbs are built around driving. The upside is that traffic here is light by big-city standards, so your commute stays short.

How Long Does It Take to Feel at Home?

Faster than you might think. St. Louis can feel like a small town stitched into a big metro, so people put down roots through neighborhoods, kids' activities, and rec leagues. Newcomers consistently tell us the welcome is genuine, and it starts to feel like home within 6 months.