Safest Neighbourhoods in East Saint Louis (and Areas to Avoid)
Neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown — honest read
The Metro East term (used locally) refers to the Illinois suburbs of St Louis MO — Belleville, O'Fallon IL, Edwardsville, Collinsville and the rest of Madison + St Clair Counties — most of which are entirely unremarkable suburban America. East St Louis the city is the one Metro East municipality with the persistent crime profile, and visitors regularly confuse the two. Per FBI UCR data, East St Louis's homicide rate has often been the highest in the United States for cities of any size — though the small population base (17,000) means absolute numbers stay small and rates swing year to year.
- Downtown East St Louis (Collinsville Avenue, Missouri Avenue): small commercial core. Most buildings boarded or vacant; the 5th & Missouri MetroLink Red Line station is here. Don't linger; don't walk between stations.
- Casino Queen + the riverfront: the casino sits on the Mississippi with its own gated parking and security; access is direct via I-55/I-64 exit 4. This is the one part of East St Louis where casual visitors do go — driving in and out is the rule.
- Lincoln Park / Olivette Park / South End: residential, depopulated; the FBI's higher-rate blocks concentrate in these areas per consistent UCR reporting. Not where visitors go and not where they should drive at night.
- Emerson Park MetroLink station area: another Red Line stop; same advice — don't walk between stations or linger.
- Washington Park (separate village, west): distinct municipality immediately west — also carries elevated crime numbers; not visitor-relevant.
For comparison, the actual visitor-friendly Metro East communities are different places entirely:
- Belleville IL (15 min east on I-64): ~42k pop, historic downtown around Main Street, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, restaurants — completely safe.
- Edwardsville IL (25 min north on I-55 + I-270): ~25k pop, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, walkable historic Main Street, low crime.
- Collinsville IL (15 min east on I-55/I-64): home of the giant Catsup Bottle water tower; quiet small-town America.
- Downtown St Louis MO (across the river): Gateway Arch, Ballpark Village, the City Museum, Forest Park, the Hill — well-policed visitor zones. Base here.
Live East Saint Louis safety score (updates daily) →