Last updated July 10, 2026
South County is not one market. It is a group of communities with very different prices, school-district assignments and competition levels. This guide is the orientation page: use it to decide which South County areas belong on your shortlist, then move into the deeper price, school-district and neighborhood guides linked below.
South County is the informal name for the southern portion of St. Louis County. It is not a municipality, a school district, or a zip code. It is a geographic and cultural shorthand that buyers, agents, and longtime residents use to describe a cluster of communities south of I-44 and the River Des Peres that share a broadly suburban character and similar daily-life infrastructure.
The nine communities in this guide — Affton, Concord, Crestwood, Green Park, Lemay, Mehlville, Oakville, Sappington, and Sunset Hills — are what most buyers mean when they say "South County." In 2026 closed sales, their medians ran from $195,000 in Lemay to $729,050 in Sunset Hills. Five school districts had sales in them. And while they moved at different speeds, none of them was slow: the median home in every one sold in 8 days or less.
Fast. In 2026 closed sales, the median home in all nine communities sold in 8 days or less, and in six of them more than half of sales closed above the original list price. These are past sales, not today’s inventory, but they show what buyers were up against.
| Community | 2026 sales | Median days on market | Sold above original list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crestwood | 40 | 6.5 days | 26 of 40 (65.0%) |
| Affton | 53 | 5 days | 33 of 53 (62.3%) |
| Concord | 56 | 4.5 days | 34 of 56 (60.7%) |
| Sunset Hills | 30 | 4.5 days | 18 of 30 (60.0%) |
| Mehlville | 148 | 6 days | 88 of 148 (59.5%) |
| Oakville | 137 | 7 days | 79 of 137 (57.7%) |
| Lemay | 47 | 8 days | 22 of 47 (46.8%) |
| Green Park | 10 | 4.5 days | 4 of 10 (40.0%) |
| Sappington | 14 | 6.5 days | 5 of 14 (35.7%) |
Crestwood had the highest share of sales closing above the original list price, 65.0%, followed by Affton and Concord. Even where fewer homes sold over list, they didn’t sit: Lemay’s median was 8 days. Sappington and Green Park are small samples (14 and 10 sales). Mehlville and Oakville are counted by MLS high school area; the others by Census boundary or city limits.
In South County's most competitive markets, pre-approval is the minimum. Here's what it actually involves. How to Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage in St. Louis → →Medians below are 2026 closed single-family sales, the same figures published on each community’s page: inside the Census boundary for Affton, Concord, Lemay and Sappington; inside city limits for Crestwood, Green Park and Sunset Hills; by MLS high school area for Mehlville and Oakville. Past sales aren’t today’s inventory, so check what’s listed now before you budget. For what each budget bought district by district, see the St. Louis County school district data.
Before you decide on a neighborhood, decide whether school district matters to you — and if it does, understand that district assignment in South County is an address-level question, not a neighborhood-level question.
Five school districts had 2026 sales in these nine communities: Mehlville R-IX, Lindbergh, Affton, Hancock Place and Bayless. Lindbergh and Mehlville R-IX cover most of the area. On the Missouri DESE 2024–2025 Annual Performance Report, Lindbergh scored 93.5% and Mehlville R-IX 91.7%, both above 90%. The difference buyers feel is price: the median 2026 sale was $400,000 in Lindbergh and $350,000 in Mehlville R-IX, for houses of about the same size. Property taxes differ as well: compare the Mehlville R-IX and Lindbergh tax sections.
The full district comparison — which neighborhoods feed into which district, and how to verify before you offer. Lindbergh vs. Mehlville: Why the Price Gap? → →The most common mistake South County buyers make is starting with a community name instead of starting with their actual situation. Here is a cleaner way to think about it:
“South County” is a regional label, not one permitting jurisdiction. Occupancy rules are set by each incorporated city or village, and by St. Louis County for unincorporated areas. Two homes a few blocks apart can fall under different rules. A community name or mailing address doesn’t by itself tell you which jurisdiction’s rules apply; the exact address does.
It depends on which jurisdiction covers the address. Some South County cities and unincorporated St. Louis County require an occupancy permit or inspection when a home sells or a new occupant moves in. Crestwood does not require one for an owner-occupied resale, and Fenton has no general resale occupancy permit for existing homes. Use the table below for the jurisdiction that actually covers the property.
Yes. The trigger differs: some jurisdictions tie the permit to any change of occupancy, some to a change of ownership, some to rentals only, and Fenton to new dwellings. Who applies and when also differs. In Sunset Hills the seller commonly applies before closing, and in Lakeshire the seller is instructed to request the inspection before closing.
| Community or area | Occupancy requirement supported by the research | Who handles it | What the buyer or occupant should verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affton, Concord, Lemay, Mehlville, Oakville, Sappington Unincorporated St. Louis County addresses only. Also Tesson Ferry, St. George, Mackenzie, Bayless and Mattese. | Re-occupancy permit required when a new occupant moves in. The County application covers sale and rental, and the home can’t be occupied until the permit is issued. County occupancy permit | St. Louis County Transportation & Public Works | That the exact address is unincorporated. These community names are not cities, and the County rule applies only if the parcel is unincorporated. |
| Crestwood City limits | No occupancy inspection or permit for an owner-occupied resale. A rental re-occupancy permit is required for all rental dwelling types; the unit can’t be occupied until the inspection passes with no deficiencies. City permits & licenses | City of Crestwood | Whether the home will be owner-occupied or rented. For rentals, apply at least 30 days before move-in. |
| Sunset Hills City limits | Residential occupancy permit required when occupancy changes, including a sale; the seller commonly applies before closing. The same process applies when a rental’s occupancy changes. City occupancy & rental registry | City of Sunset Hills | That the seller has applied and the permit timing fits the closing date. |
| Green Park City limits | Occupancy permit required when a sale results in a change of occupant; the residential occupancy permit framework also applies to rentals. City technical codes | City of Green Park | Whether the sale or lease changes the occupant. |
| Grantwood Village Village limits | Occupancy permit required when a residence changes ownership, under the St. Louis County Property Maintenance Code framework the Village subscribes to. Village brochure | Grantwood Village | Transaction timing and application details with the Village. |
| Fenton City limits | No general resale or reoccupancy permit for an existing home; City residential occupancy permits apply to new dwellings. City applications & permits | City of Fenton | Whether the home is an existing dwelling or new construction. |
| Lakeshire City limits | Occupancy permit required on a change of occupancy or ownership. The seller is instructed to request the inspection before closing, and conditional occupancy can allow the buyer a correction period. Rentals require a permit with tenant information. City code · occupancy permits | City of Lakeshire | That the seller has requested the inspection, and whether any corrections will pass to the buyer under conditional occupancy. |
| Marlborough Village limits | Re-occupancy permit required for a change of occupancy; the re-occupancy process also applies to rentals. Village code | Village of Marlborough | That the re-occupancy permit is in place before the new occupant moves in. |
| Shrewsbury City limits | A Certificate of Occupancy is required before legal occupancy; the residential occupancy application covers owners and renters. City occupancy application | City of Shrewsbury | Sale-inspection timing with the City for the specific transaction. |
The exact address controls. Affton, Concord, Lemay, Mehlville, Oakville, Sappington and the other listed local areas are community names, not cities. The County rule applies only if the parcel is in unincorporated St. Louis County; some addresses with these names sit inside a municipality with its own rules. City and village rows apply inside those city or village limits. South County areas not listed here aren’t covered in this table; check with the local city or St. Louis County.
Before closing or moving in, confirm the rule for the specific property:
Sources: the official city, village and St. Louis County pages linked in the table, checked September 25, 2026. Neighborhood pages linked above cover each area’s permits, sewer lateral programs and other home rules in more detail.
Three things matter more than picking a neighborhood name:
What are the best neighborhoods in South County St. Louis?
It depends on your budget and priorities. By 2026 medians, Lemay ($195,000), Affton ($273,000) and Green Park ($286,500) are the entry tier; Mehlville ($323,500), Concord ($352,500), Crestwood ($365,000) and Oakville ($385,000) are the middle; Sappington ($427,500) and Sunset Hills ($729,050) are the top. There’s no single best neighborhood, just the right one for your situation.
How much do homes cost in South County St. Louis?
In 2026 closed sales, medians ran from $195,000 in Lemay to $729,050 in Sunset Hills. Six of the nine communities had medians between $273,000 (Affton) and $385,000 (Oakville). These are past sales; check current listings before you budget.
Is South County St. Louis a competitive real estate market?
Yes. In 2026 the median home in all nine communities sold in 8 days or less, and in six of them more than half of sales closed above the original list price, led by Crestwood at 65.0%. Get pre-approved and have a plan before you tour.
What is the difference between South County and South City?
South City is the southern portion of the City of St. Louis — a separate political and tax jurisdiction. South County is South St. Louis County, which includes the communities in this guide. They share a border but are distinct markets with different tax structures, school districts, and housing stock profiles.
This is one piece of the St. Louis home buying process. See how it all fits together:
📚 Complete St. Louis Buyer Guide →
Grew up in South St. Louis, lived in Dogtown for 6 years, now in South County. You'll find us at Wellspring on Lindbergh on Sundays. I'm not selling you a house — I'm showing you how to think about buying or selling a house.