Moving to St. Louis
Welcome. You're going to like it here. This page collects what a new St. Louisan needs, from picking a neighborhood to getting the water turned on. All of it free, all of it written by locals.
Three steps, in order
Pick your spot
City brick, streetcar suburb, county cul-de-sac, or the Illinois side. The guides cover the feel, the housing, and what's nearby.
Neighborhood guides 2Work the checklist
An interactive list that runs from eight weeks out to your first month in town, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Moving checklist 3Get plugged in
Utilities, driver's license, voter registration, school lookup. The practical to-dos, with the official links.
Set-up resourcesThe official links
Bookmark these. They're the sites you'll actually need in your first two weeks.
Utilities
- Ameren MissouriElectric service for most of the Missouri side. Start service online before move-in day.
- SpireNatural gas for the St. Louis region.
- City Water DivisionWater for addresses in the City of St. Louis. In the county it varies by municipality (Missouri American Water covers much of it), so ask your city hall or landlord.
- MSD Project ClearSewer service and billing for St. Louis City and County.
License, plates & voting
- Missouri DOR: driver licenseNew residents have 30 days to get a Missouri license and register vehicles.
- Illinois SOS: driver servicesThe Illinois-side equivalent, with 90 days for new residents.
- Missouri voter registrationTakes about two minutes online.
- Illinois voter registrationAlso online, also quick.
Schools & getting around
- Missouri DESE ยท Illinois ISBEThe official state sources for school district boundaries and report cards. Look up the district for any address you're considering.
- Metro TransitMetroLink light rail and bus maps, fares, and the Transit app.
- St. Louis Lambert International AirportAbout 20 minutes from downtown by car, and on the MetroLink Red Line.
- DCIL: Accessible St. LouisA guide to the region's most wheelchair- and disability-accessible attractions.
What does St. Louis cost?
Short version: less than you think. St. Louis consistently ranks among the most affordable large metros in the country. The cost-of-living index runs about 16% below the national average, and the housing index is roughly half.
Whether you rent downtown or buy in the county, your money goes further. Want real numbers for your situation? Ask Jessica. It's what she does all day.
Things nobody tells you
City and county are separate
The City of St. Louis is not part of St. Louis County. Different governments, different taxes, different services. It matters when you're comparing addresses.
Highway 40 is I-64
Locals still call it "Forty." Same road. You'll also hear 270, 170, 44 and 55 with no "I" in front of any of them.
Personal property tax is a thing
Missouri taxes vehicles every year, and you need the paid receipt (or a waiver, your first year) to register your plates. Put it on the list early.
Earnings tax in the city
The City of St. Louis has a 1% earnings tax on people who live or work inside the city limits. Factor it in when you compare.
Summer is humid, fall is perfect
Four real seasons. Central air and a good coat cover just about all of it, and October is the reason everyone stays.
"Where'd you go to high school?"
It's the local icebreaker, not an interrogation. You're exempt. Enjoy it.
Have a moving question? Ask a local.
I'm Jessica Swift, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Saint Louis. Whether you're six months out or six days out, I'm happy to point you in the right direction: neighborhoods, timing, movers, all of it.