Pros and Cons of Living in Kirkwood
Kirkwood's honest tradeoff is genuinely top-tier schools and safety set against a real, substantial housing-cost and property-tax premium relative to Missouri's statewide averages.
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Learn moreReal advantages
Kirkwood offers a real, distinct historic identity (first planned commuter suburb west of the Mississippi, 1853), Kirkwood High School's National Blue Ribbon designation, a crime rate substantially below Missouri and national averages, and the region's only outlying Amtrak stop.
Real tradeoffs
Kirkwood's average home value ($446,811) runs well above Missouri's statewide average, and St. Louis County's effective property tax rate ranks #1 (highest) of Missouri's 115 counties; Kirkwood also sits within the St. Louis area's real, demonstrated tornado exposure zone.
The net read
For families and professionals prioritizing top-tier schools and low crime who can absorb the real cost premium, Kirkwood's advantages are genuine. For buyers prioritizing Missouri's lower-cost housing markets, other Missouri Tier A markets may fit better.
Key takeaways
- Real pros: Blue Ribbon schools, a crime rate substantially below average, and a real historic/transit identity.
- Real cons: a substantial housing-cost premium and Missouri's highest county property tax rate.
- The net read favors families and professionals who value schools and safety over lowest-cost housing.
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