Moving to University City: Pros, Cons & What to Know

Moving to University City means moving to a historic, inner-ring St. Louis County suburb built around the Delmar Loop district and Washington University adjacency -- alongside a real, historically significant history this record discloses honestly.

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A real, vibrant entertainment and cultural district

The Delmar Loop is a real, vibrant entertainment, cultural, and restaurant district straddling University City and the adjoining western edge of St. Louis, near Washington University in St. Louis and Forest Park.

Genuine Washington University adjacency

University City takes its own name from neighboring Washington University in St. Louis, a private university genuinely sandwiched between University City, Clayton, and St. Louis city proper -- driving the city's genuinely high combined higher-education attainment level (59.3% bachelor's-or-higher).

A real, historically significant Delmar Divide

Delmar Boulevard itself is the real, well-documented "Delmar Divide," whose origins trace to a 1916 segregation ordinance, 1935 federal redlining maps, and University City's own historical residential housing service -- a 2012 analysis found residents south of Delmar ran 73% white while residents north ran 98% Black.

A long-standing public library

The University City Public Library, established in 1939, holds more than 150,000 books -- a real, long-standing civic institution.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.