$138,474Average Value$108Average Price per Sq Ft44Homes For Sale
A St. Louis neighborhood that’s writing its future
When people travel along Virginia Avenue, a bright yellow and black barrier out front of one of the homes is hard to miss. The barrier is painted with words that describe how many here feel: “Dutchtown Proud.” Dutchtown, a well-established neighborhood on St. Louis’ south side, is a heavily populated and culturally diverse pocket of the city near the Mississippi River. Classic homes in St. Louis’ signature brick fill most of the residential blocks, and an eclectic mix of restaurants and other businesses line its commercial corridors. Now more than 150 years old, Dutchtown has seen its share of challenges, including vacancy and crime. But grassroots efforts in recent years have injected new energy into the area.
“The most basic level is its value,” says Nick Findley, promotion committee co-chair of the Dutchtown Main Streets community development organization, describing the neighborhood’s draw. “It’s still very affordable down here compared to other neighborhoods in the city. Especially for very similar housing stock. It’s very accessible to downtown – 10 to 15 minutes away. We’ve got decent amenities, shopping and all that. We’re close to some pretty well-known entertainment districts, like South Grand and Cherokee Street. We’ve got relatively good public transit service compared to other parts of the city. Also, we really pride ourselves on the diversity of this community.”
Drive into historic Dutchtown, where you are welcomed into our vibrant neighborhood.
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Build materials give Dutchtown a cohesive look
Brick City is one of St. Louis’ nicknames because of the city’s proximity to a clay deposit that made brick production convenient. In turn, brick is commonly used in St. Louis architecture and Dutchtown is a strong example. Italianate, Foursquares and bungalows built from the late 19th century to the early 20th century make up much of Dutchtown’s housing stock. A lot of Dutchtown’s properties are multifamily homes, and Findley estimates that the ratio of owner-occupied properties to rentals in the neighborhood is around 50-50. Options on the market that need work can sell for under $100,000, while those in better condition often go for $100,000 to $200,000. “It is a wonderful place to find a nice place as a lower-income family, a starter home for some people,” says Realtor Joe Hostman of Re/Max Results and a St. Louis native. “There’s a lot of investment opportunities there.” In 2020, a quarter of Dutchtown’s properties were considered vacant. But organizations like Findley’s have worked toward changing that. “Our organization, Dutchtown Main Streets, has been partnering with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri to take on some long-vacant, kind of absentee landlord situations,” Findley says. “There are statutes in Missouri that allow us to sue those owners and take possession of their property and turn it over to nonprofit developers. So we’re seeing some early successes with that.”
Dutchtown's brick duplexes stand as embodiments of the neighborhood's captivating charm.
Explore Dutchtown's cultural mosaic, where German architecture unfolds.
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Meramec is a main corridor for business
Though Dutchtown is largely residential, the area does have some well-defined commercial strips. Meramec Street is known as Downtown Dutchtown. It’s a walkable stretch with places to eat and multiple shops. Jordette Barnes operates her business here, Creative Expressions Custom Designs, making custom shirts, cups and business cards. She’s invested in the neighborhood in multiple ways. “I actually purchased my building about three to four years ago and did a lot of remodeling on it, bringing it up to par,” Barnes says. “There’s a lot of new stakeholders over here. But, at the same time, some of the stakeholders, like myself, have several properties over in Dutchtown. So it is definitely a neighborhood that you would want to invest in.” The investment happening here was one of the things that attracted Brian Cheli and his wife, Ellen, to open the Read a Book STL, a secondhand bookstore, on Meramec just about a year ago after running an online store for about 10 years. “Just the amount of real people invested in the area, wanting to see things just continue to improve, and reinvigorate this neighborhood,” Brian Cheli says.
Barnes’ and Cheli’s businesses share Dutchtown with neighborhood institutions like Merb’s Candies. Merb’s dates back more than 100 years, is located on another area commercial stretch in Grand Boulevard and still entrances locals’ eyes and noses with everything from chocolates to gummy worms to candy apples as soon as they walk in. “They’re slowly building up all around us,” says Taylor Bearden, owner of Merb’s. “We’ve been here since 1921 in this spot, so we’ve been a fixture.” Dutchtown locals enjoy Urban Eats on Meramec, a marketplace and kitchen incubator whose vendors include Tacos la Jefa STL, whose birria tacos are popular. “Tacos La Jefa is amazing,” says Molly Rebmann, who co-owns the Sign of the Times tattoo parlor in Dutchtown with her husband, Wally. World Market, an Asian grocery store, is an option for produce off Grand Boulevard. There’s also a Schnucks supermarket farther north on Grand, just outside the neighborhood.
Savor community flavors at Urban Eats, a taste of Dutchtown's culinary and social richness.
Discover Dutchtown Market were residents gather for fresh groceries and culinary delights.
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Dutchtown Main Streets supports community programming
The Dutchtown Main Streets organization is responsible for multiple free events in the neighborhood throughout the year. The list includes Virginia Avenue Spring Fling in April, a block party by the Dutchtown Community Garden that includes free food, music and more. Dutchtown Summer Vibes takes place along Meramec Street in June and includes several live performances. “That is a big outdoor concert,” Findley says. “We encourage folks to shop up and down the street. It has food and drinks, kids activities, all kinds of stuff like that. But the music is kind of the focus of it. So we get a really good crowd for that.” Virginia Avenue Pocket Park hosts the Dutchtown Autumn Chill in October. The most recent edition was supported in part by a grant from the Saint Louis Mental Health Board and featured massage therapy, sound healing and resources from area health service providers, plus face painting and pumpkin decorating for kids. There’s also Marquette Community Day in August at Marquette Park, which includes backpack and school supply giveaways and free haircuts. Marquette Park and the Neighborhood Innovation Center, a nonprofit supporting local businesses, host a series of monthly movie nights from June to October, too.
Pickup a new or used book from Read A Book STL in Dutchtown.
Meramec Street, a vibrant artery where Dutchtown's community spirit thrives.
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Meramec Elementary seeing involvement from locals
The Saint Louis Public Schools system extends to this area, a district with a C overall rating on Niche. The elementary and middle school a student here attends depends on where in the neighborhood they live, but the C-minus-rated Meramec Elementary is a possibility. “We’ve got a very dedicated parent-teacher coalition that started up at Meramec in the last few years,” Findley says. “To hopefully, make it an anchor in the community.” The area’s C-minus-rated Long Middle Community Education Center offers afterschool programs ranging from a robotics group to boys and girls track teams. Roosevelt High, which also has a C-minus grade, maintains a student-teacher ratio of just 13-to-1. Also, with a mix of magnet schools available, Saint Louis Public Schools allows students to apply for schools outside of the ones they’re zoned for. The C-minus-rated Carnahan STEAM Middle in Dutchtown offers classes in aerospace science and engineering. The neighborhood’s B-rated St. Mary's South Side Catholic High is in the top 10 of Niche’s list of the best all-boys high schools in the state.
Within Dutchtown, Long Middle Community Education Center empowers future leaders.
Dutchtown host Meramec Elementary School were knowledge blossoms and young minds are shaped.
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Marquette Park makes outdoor fun easy to find
Marquette Park spans 17-acres and has been renovated in multiple phases over the last few years. In 2021, it opened St. Louis’ first public futsal court, colored in vibrant shades of red, blue, yellow and white, giving locals the opportunity to play a faster-paced version of soccer. New basketball and pickleball courts as well as a new playground opened in the summer of 2024. The space’s other amenities include the largest outdoor, public swimming pool on St. Louis’ south side. “It is such an important aspect in the summer,” Findley says of the pool. “It gives kids a place to go.” The Marquette Recreation Center is on site as well, offering indoor basketball courts. Amberg Park is a smaller alternative to Marquette Park, in Dutchtown’s northwest corner. That space features a ball field, a playground and a community garden.
Cheers echo on Marquette Park's sports field, a vibrant hub of athleticism and community.
Amberg Park sign in Dutchtown South.
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I-55 is conveniently close
Dutchtown is just about 6 miles south of St. Louis’ downtown and is close to multiple thoroughfares that make commutes easier. “That’s the big thing — to get to the highway to get to wherever you’re going,” Bearden says. Residents are only about a mile from Interstate 55, which is one connection to downtown. People can also take Gravois Avenue to I-44 to get there. Grand Boulevard takes drivers north to the closest major medical center, the 365-bed SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, 3 miles away. I-55 merges into I-70 for trips to the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 20 miles away. The St. Louis’ MetroBus operates numerous stops throughout Dutchtown, many on Meramec Street and Grand Boulevard. “Relative to other parts of St. Louis, we’re pretty connected,” Findley says.
Just north of Dutchtown is The Gateway Arch, built in the form of a catenary arch.
Catch a Metro Bus on Cherokee for easy access to St. Louis adventures from Dutchtown.
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Crime
Dutchtown’s CAP Index Crime Score is 6 out of 10, which is higher than the national average of 4. has a crime score of six, which is higher than the national average, based on CAP Index data. According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, crimes against persons in the neighborhood dropped 11% overall from 2022 to 2023, and crimes against property decreased around 20% in the same period. However, instances of simple assault, burglary, disorderly conduct and drug violations increased between 2022 and 2023.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Peter Lu,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Mount Pleasant Park
Marquette Park
Amberg Park
Baseball/Softball
Playground
Sister Marie Charles Park
Tower Grove Park
Baseball/Softball
Picnic Area
Tennis
Gravois Park
Bellerive Park
Playground
Carondelet Park
Transit
Airport
St Louis Lambert International
30 min drive
Bus
Virginia & Mount Pleasant Sb
Bus
Grand & Montana Nb
Bus
Broadway & Gasconade Sb
Bus
Virginia & Liberty Nb
Bus
Grand & Itaska Sb
Bus
Chippewa & Spring Wb
Bus
Virginia & Osceola Nb
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Dutchtown
US
Homicide
8
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Dutchtown, Saint Louis sell after 61 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Dutchtown, Saint Louis over the last 12 months is $136,372, up 8% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This beautifully updated home offers 3 spacious bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms, with all bedrooms located on the upper floor—including a primary bedroom featuring an attached full bathroom located centrally between the rooms for convenience and privacy. The second full bathroom is located on the main floor, ideal for guests and everyday use. The main level also features an inviting living room with
Here in the heart of Dutchtown is a commercial building converted into a loft-like, open living space for anyone who has always dreamt of living in a loft. This former bicycle shop has been converted into a living space that is open, modern, and, best of all, completely updated. It has a massive open living area and a huge eat-in kitchen with a massive island and stunning concrete countertops.
Investor Special! This classic all-brick St. Louis City home is the perfect opportunity for a savvy buyer looking to add value. Sold AS-IS, Much of the heavy lifting is already done—now it's your turn to bring it across the finish line. With great bones, a solid structure, and original charm, this home is ready for your finishing touches. Ideal for rehabbers, flippers, or buy-and-hold investors
Check out this ideal 2-family investment property located in the Dutchtown neighborhood, just down the block from up-and-coming Chippewa Street. With updates both of systems and finishes, opportunity knocks with low overhead, taxes and easy maintenance, plus with current unit with excellent tenant receiving market rate of $625. The downstairs unit comes occupied with a reliable tenant, and the
Stephanie Nelson PondromBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties
APPLY FOR $30, BE APPROVED IN 30 HOURS!*Come home and relax in this classic 2-bedroom 1 bath unit. Spacious living near the city life. Quiet and casual neighborhood with a mix of all ages. The Dutchtown neighborhood offers nearby parks, shopping, universities, highways and coffee shops. Something for everyone!**Additional $70 per month for water, sewer and
Experience modern living in this inviting 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom 1st-floor rental with a parking spot in the back! Embrace the freedom of an open floor plan, seamlessly blending living and dining areas, perfect for both entertaining and relaxation. Modern updated Kitchen with plenty of cabinetry space and new stainless steel appliances. Freshly painted walls and wood floors throughout add both
APPLY FOR $30, BE APPROVED IN 30 HOURS!*Come home and relax in this classic 2-bedroom 1 bath unit. Spacious living near the city life. Quiet and casual neighborhood with a mix of all ages. The Dutchtown neighborhood offers nearby parks, shopping, universities, highways and coffee shops. Something for everyone!**Additional $70 per month for water, sewer and
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Peter Lu,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
14,038
Median Age
36
Population Density
15 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.8%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$39,974
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$51,213
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
80.5%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
17.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.4%
% Population in Labor Force
68.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
25°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
11''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
47/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
73/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
43/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
