You love cheering on the Cardinals, want plenty of provel on your pizza, and get warm feelings when you see the Gateway Arch on the skyline. But you’re just not sure city life is for you. That’s why we’ve figured out which St. Louis suburbs are the best of the best. In these suburbs, you’re close to all the downtown St. Louis action you love, but enjoy peaceful suburban streets, beautiful spacious homes, and close-knit communities. Let’s take a look at the 11 suburbs that made the cut.
The small riverside city of Chesterfield kicks off our list of the best St. Louis suburbs with a variety of housing options for home buyers. Chic condos in contemporary and Colonial style buildings, as well as Colonial, craftsman, and farmhouse style homes are common. Enjoy a picnic by the Missouri River at River’s Edge Park, or take advantage of convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Chesterfield Mall. The Butterfly House is a beautiful place to get back to nature or host an event.
The peaceful suburb of Clayton earns the second place spot on our list with plenty of beautiful Colonial and craftsman style homes, as well as chic modern condos for home buyers. Residents are less than 10 miles from all the amenities in downtown St. Louis, and just two miles away from the St. Louis Art Museum and St. Louis Zoo. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love the facilities at Shaw Park, including the gardens, walking trails, aquatics center, and ice skating rink.
Home buyers searching for the perfect historic home have their pick of architectural styles in Webster Groves. Beautifully maintained cottage, Colonial, craftsman, and bungalow style homes are common. Hit the links at Algonquin Golf Club, or get back to nature at the 38-acre Blackburn Park which features picnic areas, trails, tennis courts, and a bird sanctuary. Community events like the weekly farmers market or the summer Music and Movies Under the Stars series are a great way to meet new neighbors.
Home buyers looking for a safe suburban community with lovely craftsman, Colonial, and farmhouse style homes on quiet streets should take a close look at the St. Louis suburb of Ellisville. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love Ellisville’s numerous parks and trails. The popular 167-acre Bluebird Park has beautiful trails, an amphitheater, tennis courts, fields, and a disc golf course. Community events like the Bluebird Park Summer Concert Series and the Ellisville Community Farmer’s Market bring this close-knit community together.
Ballwin earns the fifth place spot on our list with one of the lowest crime rates of any place we ranked and a variety of homes including spacious craftsman, Colonial, and ranch style houses. Golf enthusiasts can hit the links at the Ballwin Golf Course, or join the Meadowbrook Country Club. The expansive North Pointe Family Aquatic Center is a great way to beat the summer heat before enjoying live music on a cool summer evening at the Sunset Concert Series.
The conveniently located suburb of Kirkwood is just 13 miles away from all the action in downtown St. Louis, but this thriving community has plenty to offer on its own. Home buyers will find sprawling ranch style homes, stately Victorians and Colonials, and charming craftsman houses. Grab fresh local produce at the Kirkwood Farmers’ Market, cool off at the Kirkwood Aquatic Center, or enjoy a stroll by the Meramec River at the scenic 93-acre Emmenegger Nature Park.
Home to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, this St. Louis suburb has plenty of amenities to offer residents. Modest ranch and Cape Cod style homes are common, as are spacious Victorian and craftsman style homes. Enjoy a live performance or movie at the historic 1909 Wildey Theater, hit the links at the Sunset Hills Country Club, or enjoy a scenic stroll through The Gardens at SIUE.
The small close-knit community of Brentwood earns the eighth place spot on our list of the best St. Louis suburbs with charming historic craftsman, Colonial, and farmhouse style homes. Enjoy a picnic or a stroll at the well-maintained Brentwood Park, or hike down along Black Creek at Memorial Park. Brentwood residents enjoy a peaceful small town vibe just over nine miles from all the action in downtown St. Louis.
Mascoutah earns the ninth place spot on our list with one of the lowest crime rates of any place we ranked. Ranch and craftsman style homes on winding suburban streets are common in this suburb. Residents of this close-knit community enjoy strolling down the pedestrian-friendly Main Street and stopping in numerous local restaurants and businesses, grabbing fresh local produce from the Farmers Market, or having a picnic in Scheve Park.
Columbia is tied for tenth on our list of the best St. Louis suburbs, but with a population of over 111,000 and the amenities to match, it’s also a thriving city that’s conveniently located between St. Louis and Kansas City. Home buyers will find everything from modern condos to sprawling craftsman style homes. Golf enthusiasts have access to multiple local courses and country clubs, while outdoor recreation lovers will enjoy the numerous city parks and wildlife areas like Twin Lakes, Hinkson Woods, and Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary. Residents also have access to numerous local eateries and shops, as well as brand name shopping at Columbia Mall.
Manchester rounds out our list of the best St. Louis suburbs with one of the lowest unemployment rates of any place we ranked. Home buyers will find lovely craftsman and Tudor style homes on spacious lots. Outdoor enthusiasts can have a picnic or cool off in the pool at Paul A. Schroeder Park. Residents also enjoy numerous local dining and shopping options along Manchester Road.
To figure out which St. Louis suburbs would make the cut, we took a look at the following criteria:
We ranked each suburb in the above categories and averaged the scores. The suburbs with the lowest overall scores made our list of the best St. Louis suburbs to live in. We sourced data from the U.S. Census, AreaVibes, and local business listings. To see how the rest of the suburbs we ranked measured up, check out the table below: 
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