The Safest Neighborhoods In St. Louis: 2022's Ultimate List

With its gorgeous architecture, iconic structures, family-friendly communities, and historic metro area, St. Louis can be a wonderful place to live. The city has a population of nearly 303,000 residents and it’s no wonder that so many people are moving to St. Louis. Nicknamed the “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis can easily be described as a big city with small-town character.

St. Louis is considered one of the most historic cities in the nation. Its past, as a transportation and industrial center, a staging post during westward expansion, and as one of America’s baseball and musical capitals, is engraved into St Louis’ DNA. While it may not be understood upon arrival, St. Louisans are instilled with the belief that theirs is one of the country’s greatest cities – and that adds to its charm. Even if it is no longer the hub it once was, St. Louis is not in any way a “small” city.

Regardless of who you are or where you come from, now is a better time than ever to think about relocating to St. Louis. After decades of decline, the city is experiencing a renaissance that is attracting tourists, bringing in new job opportunities and research facilities, and breathing new life into the abandoned industrial areas of the city. Whether you’re starting a family, relocating because of a job offer, or simply desire a change of scenery, you’ll enjoy all that St. Louis has to offer.

We understand that moving to a new place is always tough. Each city has its own unique learning curve and it’s likely very important to you that you find a community that is going to be safe for you and your family. In fact, whether you’re relocating to St. Louis, or anywhere else in the world, safety should always be at the top of your priority list. Although life in St. Louis is wonderful, there’s no denying the high crime rates. However, the crime tends to be concentrated in the city and there are plenty of safe neighborhoods in the suburbs to settle down in.

Check out our guide: Pros And Cons Of Living In Missouri

St. Louis is divided into 79 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own characteristics and unique style. Whether you’re looking to settle in the suburbs or be right in the heart of downtown, there are plenty of perfect communities to choose from. St. Louis tends to get a bad rap when it comes to crime statistics and national averages. However, most of this has to do with geography, as St. Louis actually ranks much lower when the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area is factored in.

Although crime rates are high in St. Louis, they tend to be highest in the city while the suburbs experience much lower rates. There is no sugar-coating the fact that St. Louis has its dangers and crime is a real issue. However, the city is still much safer than what is portrayed in the media. In order to aid in your search of finding a suitable neighborhood to call home in St. Louis, we assembled a list of the safest places.

We analyzed FBI crime statistics to determine which communities are the safest, with respect to violent crime, property crime, and total crime rates. Those with the lowest crimes per 100K people made our list of the top ten safest neighborhoods in St. Louis, MO.

Topping our list of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis is Hi-Pointe, a community of roughly 2,160 residents. Hi-Pointe takes its name from being one of the highest points in the city. Over the last century, the area’s history involved clay mining for tile and fire brick manufacturing, a small airport landing field, and farming. Many of the current residents of Hi-Pointe have been around long enough to witness these changes.

Hi-Pointe is one of three neighborhoods that is collectively referred to as the historic “Dogtown.” The neighborhood’s position on the edge of the city has allowed it to become much less densely populated than many other communities in St. Louis. This area is very desirable for prospective home buyers due to its proximity to Forest Park, Metrolink, the affluent suburb of Clayton, I-64, and Washington University. It’s also a relatively affordable option, is bordered by a park, and offers an eclectic mix of stone, brick, and frame homes of varying styles.

With total crime rates that are 78% lower than the St. Louis average and 34% lower than the national average, Hi-Pointe earns the top spot on our list of the safest neighborhoods in the city. Violent crimes per 100K people come in at 129 and property crime is 1,581 for 2020.

Princeton Heights is a neighborhood located on the southwestern edge of St. Louis. Its boundaries are Hampton Avenue to the west, Christy Boulevard to the east, Eichelberger Street to the north, and the River des Peres and Gravois Avenue to the south. The community also contains a significant portion of Willmore Park. Locals describe Princeton Heights as one of the city’s best examples of the “gingerbread house.” Each street and every home has the charm and craftsmanship that is hard not to love about St. Louis. Although many homes in Princeton Heights appear the same at first glance, upon closer look each one has unique touches that set it apart from all the rest.

The neighborhood is a blend of residential and commercial buildings with very minimal industrial activity. Overall, Princeton Heights is a well-maintained community, offering beautiful, welcoming homes, manicured lawns, and clean alleys for safe biking riding and strolling. Housing options include single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, and apartment complexes.

Princeton Heights takes the second spot on our list of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis. The violent crime rate per 100K people comes in at 158, while property crime is 1,915 for 2020.

Clifton Heights is a community of roughly 2,624 residents and portions of the neighborhood are among the earliest developed areas in southwest St. Louis. It also features more varied topography throughout than the adjoining neighborhoods to the south and east, with its natural valleys and prominent hills. The combination of natural topography and history gives Clifton Heights an ambiance and feel that sets it apart from anywhere else in the city.

The neighborhood contains a much higher percentage of single-family dwellings than many other St. Louis neighborhoods, making Clifton Heights almost entirely residential. The older and larger homes are situated around Clifton Park and Hampton Avenue serves as the area’s commercial and institutional hub.

Although Clifton Heights has historically been a predominately white middle-class neighborhood, it is becoming more diverse as young families are relocating to the area. Crime is relatively minimal, making Clifton Heights the third safest neighborhood in St. Louis. Violent crimes per 100K people sit at 459 and property crime per capita is 1,814 for 2020.

Ellendale is a neighborhood of approximately 1,951 residents that is located in southwest St. Louis. It is positioned north of I-44, east of the city limits, west of Hampton, and south of Manchester. Much of what is now Ellendale was originally land owned by James E. Sutton and after he died, the community was started by one of his daughters, Kate Thomas. Although an accident destroyed the majority of the housing built prior to the World’s Fair, some old homes built afterward are still standing.

While Ellendale used to be a primarily industrial community, it is now very residential with mostly office and commercial space. Housing is nearly 70% single-family dwellings that range from starter homes to much larger houses. The area is considered solidly middle-class, with very few residents being described as “poor.”

Residents of Ellendale enjoy convenient access to the highway, abundant shopping opportunities, the nearby Forest Park, and the St. Louis Science Center. With one of the lowest reported crime rates in the city, Ellendale earns the fourth spot on our list of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis. Violent crimes per 100K people come in at 190 and property crime is 2,175 for 2020.

With a population of roughly 9,805 residents, Boulevard Heights is bounded by Gravois Avenue to the north, Rosa Avenue, Loughborough Avenue and Grand Avenue to the south, Carlsbad Avenue and Leona Street to the west, and the city limits to the north. It has been previously self-described as the safest neighborhood in the city, and residents believe this to be generally true.

Boulevard Heights is home to a substantial amount of green space, mixed architecture, several large cemeteries, quaint independent businesses, quality necessary amenities. Many of this area’s residents are police officers, firemen, and city employees. The community is generally quiet and is the most reminiscent of the county or a mid-century suburban neighborhood.

Residents of Boulevard Heights enjoy the wonderful Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) trail and Carondelet Park for walking, jogging, or bike riding. Based on our calculations, Boulevard Heights is the fifth safest neighborhood in St. Louis. The violent crime rate per 100K people comes in at 473 and property crime per capita is 2,027 for 2020.

The Saint Louis Hills is a population of approximately 8,000 residents and is located in the southern section of St. Louis. This neighborhood is bounded by Chippewa to the north/northwest, Gravois to the southwest, the city limits to the southwest, and Hampton to the east. There is a lot to love about Saint Louis Hills, as it is home to two parks, the streets are always clean, and the area has large old oaks and sycamores that offer shade and cover for homes.

The area that is in and around the St. Louis Hills neighborhood is one of the last large expanses developed within the city’s 1876 boundaries. This area was among the earliest French colonial land claims and still manage to remain largely agricultural and undeveloped for over a century.

Nowadays, Saint Louis Hills is largely residential with pre-WWII homes and mid-century ranches. It is also very walkable with lots of nearby shopping, both chain and boutique. Saint Louis Hills ranks sixth on our list of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis. Violent crimes per 100K people come in at 264 and property crime sits at 2,348 for 2020.

South Hampton, or sometimes combined as “Southhampton,” is a neighborhood that is located in the southwest corner of St. Louis and covers a one square mile area. It is bounded by Eichelberger to the south, Chippewa to the north, Hampton to the west, and South Kingshighway to the east.

It is a quiet community that was historically occupied by mostly German immigrants and their descendants. Throughout much of the nineteenth century, South Hampton was a mix of farms and estates the remained rural in character. Nowadays, it is a blend of commercial and residential areas, with Macklind, a small but energetic commercial center, bisecting the neighborhood.

South Hampton’s charming and eclectic properties are occupied by welcoming businesses, friendly neighbors, and an active neighborhood associated that is all-volunteer. While total crime in South Hampton is 2% higher than the national average, it is 66% less than the St. Louis average. Therefore, this peaceful community earns the seventh slot on our list of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis. The violent crime rate per 100K people is 386 and property crime per capita comes in at 2,244 for 2020.

The Missouri Botanical Garden neighborhood is named after its most prominent feature, you guessed it, the spectacular Missouri Botanical Garden. Though the property takes up much of the neighborhood, it is still home to approximately 1,205 residents. The Missouri Botanical Garden has been consistently guided by its goal to improve the adjacent neighborhoods, making them attractive and safe for the Garden’s visitors and staff. As a result, this community is considered one of the safest in St. Louis.

This is the ideal location for young couples, due to the close proximity to the Garden and the opportunity to enjoy all of its community events. The Missouri Botanical Garden neighborhood is also perfect for older couples and retirees, especially for enjoying strolls in some of the city’s most beautiful parks.

Close to home, residents even have access to a very diverse food scene. The Missouri Botanical Garden neighborhood is considered the eighth safest neighborhood in St. Louis, based on statistics. Although property crime is relatively high in this area, violent crime rates are 60% lower than the national average. Violent crimes per 100K people come in at 154, while property crime per capita is 2,577 for 2020.

Another clean and well-maintained neighborhood, Lindenwood Park is defined by Watson and Chippewa Street to the south, Arsenal Street and I-44 to the north, the city limits to the west, and Hampton Avenue to the east. The community is largely comprised of single-family and some multi-family brick housing stock, which demonstrates the quality craftsmanship that St. Louis is known for. Most of the properties were built between the 1930s and 1950s, while some new construction exists but is limited due to a lack of suitable undeveloped land.

The commercial areas are primarily found along Watson and Hampton. Here residents enjoy many fine restaurants, with a heavy Italian influence, along with plenty of shops and bars that warrant a visit. Lindenwood Park gets its name from the community’s bustling park which is typically overflowing with kids on playgrounds, and adults and families taking advantage of outer perimeter trails.

Lindenwood Park ranks ninth on our list of the safest neighborhoods in St. Louis. Although the total crime is 7% higher than the national average, it is all relative because it’s 64% lower than the city average. Violent crimes per 100K people come in at 371 and property crime per capita is 2,380 for 2020.

Closing out our list is the North Hampton, located in south St. Louis with a population of roughly 8,316 residents. It is bounded by Chippewa to the south, Scanlan/59th Street/Connecticut to the north, Hampton to the west, and Kingshighway to the east. The community is made up of two smaller neighborhoods: the Tilles Park neighborhood and the Kingshighway Hills neighborhood.

Tilles Park features a nice park, of the same name, where residents can enjoy playgrounds, sports fields, picnic areas, and a walking path. North Hampton is generally a very walkable neighborhood with many bars, restaurants, salons, a coffee shop, auto mechanics, a veterinarian, yoga studio, and chain pharmacy all within walking distance.

Residential housing includes modest homes of many different styles and many of the small frame homes are sprinkled throughout the neighborhood, as well as concentrated toward the west end. North Hampton takes the final spot on our list and is the tenth safest neighborhood in St. Louis. Violent crimes per 100K people come in at 490, while property crime is 2,452 for 2020.