What Are The 8 Safest Neighborhoods In St. Louis, Missouri?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

St. Louis, located on the Mississippi River, is the second-largest city in Missouri. The city is often called the “Gateway to the West” – and for good reason! It’s most famous for the Gateway Arch. The 630-ft tall monument honors the infamous westward explorations of Lewis and Clarke.

St. Louis is home to several universities and colleges, and the city is teeming with die-hard sports fans. If you like music more than sports, the blues scene is one to remember.

The safest neighborhoods in St. Louis, MO include Princeton Heights, Hi-Pointe, and Boulevard Heights. Each of these neighborhoods boast low crime rates, low unemployment, and higher than average income levels. Hi-Point and Princeton Heights have crime rates that are 70% lower than the rest of the state. While crime in St. Louis has declined by more than 50% in the past 10 years, these neighborhoods lead the way in safety.

Let’s explore the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis, Missouri, in no particular order.

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8 Safest Neighborhoods in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is just as safe and welcoming as other urban areas in the United States. The city is often called dangerous in the media, but with crime rates steadily declining, there are clearly safe areas to be found. The 8 safest neighborhoods in St. Louis are:

  • Hi-Pointe
  • Princeton Heights
  • Boulevard Heights
  • Lindenwood Park
  • North Hampton
  • South Hampton
  • Ellendale
  • Saint Louis Hills

Each neighborhood is unique, with its own particular personality. Keep reading to find out more!

1. Hi-Pointe

  • Population: 2,300
  • Median Income: $157,129
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 146
  • Unemployment Rate: 4.3%

The Hi-Pointe neighborhood in St. Louis tops nearly every list of desirable places to live in the city! As the name suggests, the neighborhood is one of the highest points in St. Louis. In the past, the area was used to mine clay to make tile and brick. There were once farms as well as a small airport landing field.

Hi Pointe is located on the edge of St. Louis and is one of three of the “Dogtown” neighborhoods. It’s an affordable and attractive option to new home buyers thanks to its proximity to Washington University and Forest Park. Homes in the Hi-Pointe neighborhood are a unique mix of stone and brick.

The neighborhood’s crime is also a whopping 78% lower than the rest of St. Louis!

2. Princeton Heights

  • Population: 7,620
  • Median Income: $58,844
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 179
  • Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

If you’re looking for a charming place to live in St. Louis, you’ll love the Princeton Heights neighborhood! This area is filled with “gingerbread house” style homes with details like sloping roofs, large entrances, and beautiful brickwork. Don’t be fooled – the houses may look almost identical, but when you take a closer look you’ll see that they are in fact unique.

Princeton Heights is located in southwestern St. Louis. The quaint River des Peres is situated to the south.

There is a mixture of residential and commercial buildings in Princeton Heights. In addition to the attractive homes, the neighborhood is well maintained. The lawns are well manicured and the streets are clean, making the area perfect for a bike ride or leisurely walk.

3. Boulevard Heights

  • Population: 9,805
  • Median Income: $49,372
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 473
  • Unemployment Rate: 4.8%

If you want to live where police officers themselves do, Boulevard Heights is a good place to start! This St. Louis neighborhood is also home to many firemen. Before Hi-Pointe was named the safest neighborhood to live in St. Louis, Boulevard Heights was. Many people who live there still believe this is true, no matter what the statistics say.

The cost of living in Boulevard Heights is 13% less expensive than the national average, making it a great place for young families.

There are a lot of green spaces in Boulevard Heights, which makes the neighborhood even more attractive for families. The Great Rivers Greenway trail and Carondelet Park are located within the limits of Boulevard Heights. You’ll also find plenty of small businesses you can feel good about frequenting.

4. Lindenwood Park

  • Population: 8,741
  • Median Income: $57,626
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 371
  • Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

For those of you looking for homes with a bit more charm, you’ll love Lindenwood Park. The houses in this neighborhood were built between 1930 and 1950, and are living proof of the craftsmanship that you’ll only find in St. Louis! Lindenwood Park is well maintained and is similar to Princeton Heights.

It’s a great place to raise a family, and your kids will love the nearby park with a playground. Lindenwood Park is called as such thanks to a park by the same name.

Although the crime in Lindenwood Park may seem a bit high (7% higher than the national average), don’t get too caught up with those numbers. The overall crime is 64% lower than the St. Louis average, making it safe for the city.

5. North Hampton

  • Population: 8,316
  • Median Income: $48,005
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 490
  • Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

North Hampton is actually two neighborhoods in one! Tilles Park and Kingshighway Hills make up this safe neighborhood in St. Louis. Like Lindenwood Park, Tilles Park gets its name from a nearby green space. The park features playgrounds for your children and walking trails to stroll on.

Besides the park, you’ll find a coffee shop, restaurants, several bars, and even a yoga studio for the health-conscious amongst you! There’s also a veterinarian’s office, which is convenient for pet owners.

The homes are built in many different styles which means you’ll never be bored – and buyers have plenty of choices. Residents of North Hampton enjoy quality schools as well as amenities nearby. The cost of living is also reasonable, which is always a good thing.

6. South Hampton

  • Population: 6,733
  • Median Income: $57,638
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 436
  • Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

South Hampton is located in southwest St. Louis. It’s a small neighborhood (coming in at just one square mile) and is filled with attractive brick houses. The area was once much more rural with farms and estates abound. Today, this quiet St. Louis neighborhood boasts appealing single-family homes.

You won’t find any farms in South Hampton anymore, but you will find Macklind, a commercial center that makes shopping easy and convenient. The cost of living is 7% less than the national average, so first-time homebuyers may consider starting their lives here without breaking the bank!

The crime rate in South Hampton is 66% less than the St. Louis average, which is why it made our list! This quiet neighborhood is a great place to settle down in the Midwest.

7. Ellendale

  • Population: 1,951
  • Median Income: $54,495
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 215
  • Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

Like many of the safest neighborhoods on this list, Ellendale is located in southwest St. Louis. There aren’t many residents here, with the population clocking in at just under 2,000, making the neighborhood quaint and quiet. You’ll also find a few pre-World’s Fair homes here, which is rare for the area!

Ellendale is a mixture of residential and commercial properties and is described as middle class. Over half of the houses here are single-family homes. It is also conveniently located, with easy access to shopping, Forest Park, St. Louis Science Center, and the highway.

Ellendale has some of the lowest crime rates in all of St. Louis, which is why it’s included on our list! If you’re looking for a place to start a family in the city, Ellendale is an excellent choice.

8. Saint Louis Hills

  • Population: 8,066
  • Median Income: $63,348
  • Violent Crimes Per 100k: 299
  • Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the beauty of Saint Louis Hills. This neighborhood is filled with large, early 19th century homes, manicured lawns, and lots of trees. If you want to live in a place where you can go for enjoyable walks in the neighborhood, you’ll love it here.

The area is well maintained and clean. There are two nearby parks for exercise and leisure, and Saint Louis Hills is in one of the older sections of St. Louis. It’s one of the last residential areas that sits within the city’s 1876 boundaries.

If you’re concerned about access to amenities, there is a lot of shopping close by. Whether you’re interested in small boutiques or larger chain stores, you’ll find both within convenient proximity!

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What’s the Verdict?

Don’t be fooled by what you read in the news, St. Louis is making a comeback! New jobs, rising tourism, and new constructions have combined to improve the city one step at a time. This historical center of the Midwest is filled with plenty to see and do.

Safety comes first, and all of the neighborhoods above are great places to live. The safest neighborhoods in St. Louis, Missouri are out there waiting for you!

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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