Moving from Seattle area - Best safe and inexpensive suburb to live?

[epmgaw]

Just a heads up, but if you live in Illinois and work in Missouri, you will have to file two state income tax returns. Illinois has lower income tax, but much higher gasoline and property taxes than Missouri.

[VideoEngineerAJS]

As a 27 year old male with a 23 year old wife and no kids I am happy where I am located. I am in Calverton Park which is a "bedroom community" surrounded by Hazelwood, Florissant, and Ferguson and I work at Olive and 270.

I would agree with everyone else about renting before buying. There are quite a few houses for rent along New Florissant and a couple actually in Calverton Park. A lot of new stuff is going up in North County. The Walmart in Ferguson was just converted to a Super Walmart, a 54th Street Grill was built at Cross Keys (Lindbergh and New Halls Ferry in Florissant) and yet it's pretty quiet in our neighborhood.

We are currently renting a house so we aren't "stuck" in our current situation, but neither of us have any issues with where we are. As someone your age I understand that not everyone in their 20s wants to live in a "cool and hip" place. My wife and I like living in a place that is very driveable and where it's easy to get to many different stores and restaurants, but at the same time you're not on top of your neighbor.

Now there is another couple our age that goes to the same church as us (in Chesterfield) and they live in Florissant right off of New Florissant Rd. and they want to move to Creve Coeur or Chesterfield, however that's more or less because the wife goes to school at Missouri Baptist which is at 270 and 64.

Anyway, don't let anyone tell you where you should live because of your age and family situation. I am quite content where I am and while I may not want to stay in North County for the rest of my life, I definitely don't want to deal with the all of the comotion of Mid County or CWE. While I do like those areas and like visiting, I don't reallly like the idea of living there.

[pro2010]

Originally Posted by B33nThere

Ahh, a fellow Pac Northwesterner!
Hey, there aren't too many of us here, Pro2010, but I can probably help you relate. Are you moving from Woodinville, Bothell, Everett, Mill Creek? Provide some details and I might better help you locate an area similar to where you were. I moved here with wife & daughter, 2 1/2 years back, from Bothell, so we've had some time to scope out the area, and make some comparisons. Good luck to ya, regardless.

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. I will be moving from the Issaquah area but also lived in Fort Wayne Indiana for a while and enjoyed that area.