BRENTWOOD, Mo. — Midwest suburbs are having a moment across the United States right now.
The quintessential American concept of large, affordable living areas outside of major metropolitan areas developed after World War II, and has since become integral to the country's largest cities. Half of all U.S. residents now live in suburbs, which have since become more racially diverse and offer more amenities than ever.
Brentwood, a suburb just outside of St. Louis, is among the best beacons of suburb living in the entire nation, according to a new ranking by Travel + Leisure magazine. The city ranked No. 7 on the travel magazine's list, in part due to it being one of the top choices for young professionals and families in Missouri.
"[Brentwood] offers great schools, fantastic playgrounds, and tranquil neighborhoods," the magazine said. "But one of its main draws is the affordable housing — Brentwood's median home price of $265,681 is well below the national average."
- Johns Creek, Georgia
- Cinco Ranch, Texas
- Okemos, Michigan
- North Bethesda, Maryland
- Coppell, Texas
- Brookline, Massachusetts
- Brentwood, Missouri
- Carmel, Indiana
- Short Pump, Virginia
- Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
Travel + Leisure isn't the only authority that believes in Brentwood's greatness. The neighborhood and school data website Niche recently ranked Brentwood as the tenth-best suburb in the nation and gave the city "A" grades in housing, public schools and nightlife.
"Living in Brentwood offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Brentwood there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks," Niche said. "Many young professionals live in Brentwood and residents tend to lean conservative."
