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St. Louis is a major Midwestern city situated at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in eastern Missouri. The metro area is home to roughly 2.8 million people, while the city itself has a population of around 300,000. Known for the iconic Gateway Arch, Forest Park, and a deep sports culture built around the Cardinals and Blues, St. Louis offers students a rich urban environment with a cost of living well below most comparable American cities. The city is divided into dozens of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character, ranging from the dense urban energy of the Central West End to the bohemian strip of Delmar Boulevard in University City. Maryville University's campus sits in the western suburbs in the Creve Coeur area, but many students choose to live closer to the city's core for the social scene and lower rents. The St. Louis metro is served by the Metro light rail system and an extensive bus network, making car-free living feasible in many neighborhoods. Washington University and Saint Louis University give the city a strong student population and keep rental markets in several neighborhoods attuned to academic budgets. Food, music, and neighborhood festivals are central to St. Louis culture, and the city's cost-effectiveness makes it an attractive place for students to stretch their budgets.
Clayton is the county seat of St. Louis County and functions as the region's secondary downtown, with a skyline of corporate towers, upscale restaurants, and a lively pedestrian streetscape. It is served directly by MetroLink and is popular with graduate students and working adults who want urban amenities close to jobs or universities. Rent is higher than much of the metro but the quality of life and transit access are hard to match.
Delmar Boulevard through University City is one of the most eclectic and energetic commercial strips in the Midwest, with live music venues, international restaurants, independent bookstores, and a stretch of the St. Louis Walk of Fame. The surrounding residential streets house a mix of students, faculty, and long-term residents at rents that are moderate for the metro. MetroLink runs directly along Delmar, making the Loop a convenient base for car-free students.
The Central West End borders Forest Park and combines grand historic architecture with an active restaurant and cafe scene along Euclid and Maryland Avenues. It is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and attracts students from nearby Washington University and medical institutions. Rent is above average for St. Louis but still accessible for those sharing a unit.
Benton Park is a historic south city neighborhood with well-preserved brick homes and proximity to the Cherokee Street antiques and arts corridor. Rents are lower than comparable central neighborhoods, making it a popular choice for students and young professionals who want to live in the city on a budget. The neighborhood has a strong community feel and is within driving distance of Maryville's campus in under thirty minutes.
South Grand Boulevard is anchored by Tower Grove Park and lined with a diverse mix of international restaurants, coffee shops, and independent businesses. The surrounding residential streets offer some of the most affordable rents in the inner city, and the neighborhood is known for being welcoming and walkable at the local level. It is a solid choice for students who want to live in the city proper without paying Central West End prices.
Here's what you need to know about getting around St. Louis.
St. Louis is served by Metro Transit, which operates the MetroLink light rail system and a network of MetroBus routes throughout the city and inner suburbs. MetroLink runs two lines connecting the Missouri side to the Illinois side, with key stops at major destinations including Forest Park, Clayton, and the Civic Center. Students living near a MetroLink station can commute to many parts of the city without a car, though frequency drops in the evenings and on weekends. Bus coverage is broad but can involve long wait times on less-traveled corridors.
Several St. Louis neighborhoods are quite walkable, particularly the Central West End, the Loop, Soulard, and Benton Park, where daily errands and dining are accessible on foot. The city has been expanding its bike infrastructure with protected lanes and shared paths, including trail connections through Forest Park. BCycle and other bike-share options are available in central neighborhoods, making short trips easy without owning a bike. Students in the western suburbs near Maryville will find the area more car-dependent, though the campus itself has bike-friendly paths nearby.
Parking in most St. Louis neighborhoods is relatively easy and inexpensive compared to larger coastal cities. Street parking is free in many residential areas, and monthly garage or lot passes are available at reasonable rates in Clayton and the downtown core. Students living in the western suburbs will generally find ample parking at apartment complexes included with rent. The main challenges arise when commuting downtown or to venues during events, when parking lots can fill and rates spike.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
St. Louis is one of the more affordable major cities in the country for renters. A one-bedroom apartment in popular student neighborhoods like the Loop or Benton Park typically runs $800 to $1,200 per month. Sharing a two-bedroom can bring per-person costs down to $550 to $850. Clayton and the Central West End command higher prices, often $1,200 to $1,800 for a one-bedroom.
St. Louis is home to 4 universities, each with its own student housing market.
Maryville University is a private university located on a modern, growing campus in the western suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, in the Creve Coeur area near Town and Country. Founded in 1872, the university has grown significantly in recent years, now enrolling roughly 10,000 students across a mix of on-campus…
View housing near Maryville UniversityPonce Health Sciences University St. Louis is a graduate-level health sciences institution in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The university offers doctoral and master's programs in medicine, clinical psychology, biomedical sciences, and nursing, drawing students from across the country and internationally. There are no…
View housing near Ponce Health Sciences University St. LouisSaint Louis University is a private Jesuit research university founded in 1818, making it one of the oldest universities west of the Mississippi River. Located on Grand Boulevard in the Midtown neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, SLU enrolls approximately 8,000 to 10,000 undergraduates alongside graduate and…
View housing near Saint Louis UniversityUniversity of Missouri-St. Louis is a regional research university enrolling approximately 13,000 to 16,000 students on a commuter-oriented campus in north St. Louis County near the Normandy and University City areas. UMSL is part of the UM System and offers strong programs in business, education, optometry, and the…
View housing near University of Missouri-St. LouisBrowse student housing near each St. Louis-area university.