St. Louis Neighborhood Questions!

Hi everyone!

So I recently got my first job out of college in mid/southern Illinois and plan on moving to St. Louis in May. I'm a (gay) 22m and have lived in (metro) Detroit most of my life.

I've been pretty lucky, and have a nice degree, so my price range is $1200-$2000 however I would obviously like to spend as little as possible on rent so that I can spend the rest on going to places in St. Louis.

It's been on my bucket list to live in a city, and I also really love history so St. Louis seemed like the obvious choice. From what I've heard Central West End seems like it would be most aligned with what I'm looking for, but it also looks pretty expensive (especially considering the surrounding areas). Walkability and a solid nightlife are both important to me, but I would prefer a "city-esque" skyline.

The main places I'm considering are:

  • Central Park West
    • Seems like it has everything I'm looking for but also looks like with everything my rent + utilities + parking will end up like 2200 a month.
  • Forest Park Southeast (the Grove)
    • Has almost everything minus the skyscraper stuff, plus great for someone queer
  • Downtown
    • Less walkability but REALLY cheap apartments that would let me use that extra $500+ on my student loans and all of that

I have a few questions I'm wondering about so that I can make an informed decision when my move comes.

  • Is the nightlife (clubs, bars, late night sports restaurants etc.) in Downtown popular or is it only when there is any event in the city?
  • Are there any farmers market type places on the side of the city that's near Central West End/the Grove?
  • Is the price increase from Downtown to Central West End worth the improved walkability and popularity for most people?
  • Does anyone know anything about Montclair on the Park/Parc Frontenac? They seem way to low of a price for the area so are there any specific hidden fees/are they not ideal places to live?

Also, sorry for the timing of this post as I know a lot of people are still reeling from the tornado, I just plan on visiting this upcoming week and wanted to ask.