Call the city by its nickname, “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis, MO, has become a destination for many people relocating to the Midwest. From its iconic food scene to its easy access to all Missouri and Illinois have to offer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise nearly 305,000 people call St. Louis home. And if you’re considering living in St. Louis, there are three things you should know – the housing market is very competitive, the median home sale price is $230,000, and the average rent price for a two-bedroom apartment in St. Louis is $1,416.
Don’t worry if those numbers don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. We’ve rounded up a list of the 9 best affordable St. Louis suburbs to consider living in – and they’re all under a 30-minute drive from the city. That way you can live close to St. Louis and all its unique activities without paying the premium price of living there.
#1: Wood River, IL
Median home price: $94,250
Driving distance from St. Louis: 30 minutes
Wood River, IL homes for sale
Wood River, IL apartments for rent
With a median home sale price nearly $100K less than St. Louis, Wood River, IL, lands the number one spot on our list as the most affordable St. Louis suburb. Just about a 30-minute drive away from St. Louis, you won’t miss out on what the city has to offer. Living in Wood River, you can spend time swimming at the Wood River Aquatic Center, checking out the Wood River Museum, and having a picnic at Brushey Grove Park.
#2: East Alton, IL
Median home price: $107,000
Driving distance from St. Louis: 30 minutes
East Alton, IL homes for sale
East Alton, IL apartments for rent
East Alton, IL comes in as the second most affordable suburb in St. Louis. The same distance from St. Louis as Wood River, you can visit the Gateway Arch in just a quick drive. East Alton is known for the National Great Rivers Museum where you can find exhibits about the Mississippi River’s history. When living in this suburb of 6,000 people, you can also spend the day checking out Van Preter Park.
#3: Granite City, IL
Median home price: $109,000
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $825
Driving distance from St. Louis: 15 minutes
Granite City, IL homes for sale
Granite City, IL apartments for rent
15 minutes away from downtown St. Louis, you’ll find the suburb of Granite City, IL. From parks and outdoor recreation to supporting local businesses, there are lots of things that make Granite City a great place to live. Make sure to visit Wilson Park or Horseshoe Lake State Park if you move to the third most affordable suburb.
#4: Hartford, IL
Median home price: $110,000
Driving distance from St. Louis: 30 minutes
Hartford, IL homes for sale
Hartford, IL apartments for rent
A little more expensive than Granite City is Hartford, the next suburb on our list. About 2,000 people live in this St. Louis suburb. A few of the top attractions in Hartford include the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site and the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower.
#5: Overland, MO
Median home price: $143,000
Driving distance from St. Louis: 20 minutes
Overland, MO homes for sale
Overland, MO apartments for rent
Drive 20 minutes outside of St Louis and you’ll find the suburb of Overland, another great area to consider renting or buying a home in. With 16,000 residents, moving to this affordable suburb can keep you close enough to St. Louis, without paying the premium for a home there. In Overland, make sure to check out Wild Acres Park and Norman Myers Park for an afternoon picnic.
#6: Belleville, IL
Median home price: $166,400
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $925
Driving distance from St. Louis: 25 minutes
Belleville, IL homes for sale
Belleville, IL apartments for rent
Another well-known St. Louis suburb is Belleville, where the home prices are about $75K less than in St. Louis. Home to roughly 41,000 people, Belleville is a great suburb to consider living in. There are lots of activities to do in this suburb such as visiting one of the many museums like the Labor & Industrial Museum among many other local favorites.
#7: Fairview Heights, IL
Median home price: $182,500
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,700
Driving distance from St. Louis: 20 minutes
Fairview Heights, IL homes for sale
Fairview Heights, IL apartments for rent
Seventh on our list of affordable St. Louis suburbs is Fairview Heights, which is almost a 20-minute drive into downtown. With a population of nearly 16,000, living in Fairview Heights is a great alternative to city life. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, make sure to visit the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, Pleasant Ridge Park, and Long Acre Park.
#8: Florissant, MO
Median home price: $188,450
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $910
Driving distance from St. Louis: 25 minutes
Florissant, MO homes for sale
Florissant, MO apartments for rent
If you’ve been living in St. Louis for some time, you may know of Florissant. Almost 51,000 residents call this affordable suburb home, so you’ll have a fraction of St. Louis’s population while remaining close to the city and its attractions. Living in Florissant, make sure to check out one of the many parks and recreational areas like James S. McDonnell Park and Hazelwood City Park.
#9: Collinsville, IL
Median home price: $202,450
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $925
Driving distance from St. Louis: 20 minutes
Collinsville, IL homes for sale
Collinsville, IL apartments for rent
Moving to Collinsville, IL, will give you access to downtown St. Louis in close to 20 minutes – as long as you don’t find yourself in traffic. Close to 24,500 people live in this suburb, but there’s always somewhere new to check out in Collinsville. Popular things to do in Collinsville include visiting the Collinsville Area Recreation District, the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, and the Gateway Convention Center.
Methodology:
Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of St Louis and under a 30-minute drive from downtown St. Louis. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during July 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com during July 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
