Lake St. Louis, Missouri

Lake St. Louis is a small, quiet lakeside community about 30 miles from St. Louis. The population is under 20,000, and not a very diverse one - about 95 percent of residents are white, and only a small percentage are African American, and other races. This community mostly consists of married couples (68 percent), with the bulk of the population between the ages of 25-64. Lake St. Louis is middle-to-upper-middle class, with a median income of about $70,000 per household.

Though Lake St. Louis is revered for its serene atmosphere, commercial growth is happening slowly here due to urban sprawl from St. Louis. Still, there is relatively very little commercial development here, when this area is compared to more immediate suburbs. As is the case with many communities like Lake St. Louis, the crime rate here is low - 97.3 compared with the U.S. average of 320.9.

Residents of Lake St. Louis enjoy life here because it's great for families and there are many water-related sports and outdoor activities to enjoy. One resident described it like being "on vacation at home." Housing is also affordable in this area, depending on whether you are willing to purchase or rent older construction. This community would be perfect for families who want close access to the city of St. Louis (it's about a 40 minute drive) but would also like to spread out and enjoy nature. People relocating here will find a close-knit, conservative community with many residents having lived there for generations.