Soulard

Living in Soulard

Soulard is one of the oldest neighborhoods in St. Louis, and one of the few where the architecture tells you that immediately. It sits just south of downtown along the Mississippi, bounded roughly by Broadway and 7th Street on the east and I-55 on the west, and most of its housing dates to the mid and late 19th century: brick row houses, alley houses, and Victorians, many carrying the cast-iron anchor plate stars that are a Soulard signature.

It is a walkable, social neighborhood. Soulard has one of the densest concentrations of bars, restaurants, and live music venues in the city, and 64% of its residents rent rather than own, which keeps availability moving in a way it does not in some of St. Louis’s other historic districts.

Why Renters Choose Soulard

Niche gives Soulard an overall A grade and ranks it #23 among St. Louis neighborhoods for 2026, with an A+ for nightlife and A-range grades for commute, jobs, outdoor activities, and health and fitness.

Those grades line up with who actually lives here. Soulard’s population is around 3,500 to 3,800 in about six-tenths of a square mile, which makes it one of the denser residential neighborhoods in the city, and it skews heavily toward young professionals. The draw is that you are about a mile from downtown, inside a historic district where the streets look like nothing else in the region, with enough restaurants and music within walking distance that most weekends do not require a car.

The Soulard Farmers Market

The Soulard Farmers Market is the neighborhood’s anchor, and it is the longest continuously operating public market west of the Mississippi River, dating to 1779. More than a hundred vendors sell produce, meat, spices, flowers, and prepared food, and for residents it functions as an actual grocery run rather than a weekend outing.

This is one of the real practical arguments for renting in Soulard. Very few St. Louis neighborhoods let you buy a week of groceries on foot.

Mardi Gras in Soulard

Soulard hosts St. Louis’s Mardi Gras celebration, and it is the neighborhood’s best-known feature by a wide margin. It may sound silly, but Mardi Gras season is a real consideration when you live here. It is a draw for a lot of Soulard residents and part of why they choose the neighborhood. It also means a few weekends a year of crowds, street closures, and parking pressure. Residents who love Soulard tend to love this about it. It is worth knowing before you sign.

History and the Historic District

The neighborhood is named for Antoine Soulard, a French surveyor who came to St. Louis in the 1790s after fleeing the French Revolution, and his wife Julia Cerré Soulard, whose family owned the land. Soulard received its local historic district designation in 1972 and is one of eight certified local historic districts in St. Louis.

The other institution that shapes the neighborhood is the Anheuser-Busch brewery, whose North American headquarters and historic brewery complex occupy the southern portion of Soulard below Lynch Street. The brewery’s Brew House, Stable, and Office buildings are a designated National Historic Landmark, and the campus is a working facility, and it is the reason the neighborhood’s residential character is concentrated north of Lynch.

Getting Around and Living Downtown-Adjacent

Soulard sits about a mile south of downtown St. Louis, close enough that downtown employment, Busch Stadium, and the riverfront are a short drive or a walkable trip depending on where in the neighborhood you live. The neighborhood is served by MetroBus, with the nearest MetroLink stations in downtown rather than in Soulard itself, so most residents drive or use the bus for trips beyond the neighborhood.

Within Soulard, walkability is the point. Restaurants, bars, the farmers market, and neighborhood parks are reachable on foot from most of the residential streets north of Lynch.

Housing Options and Rental Rates in Soulard

Soulard’s rental stock is mostly historic: brick row houses, flats carved out of 19th century buildings, alley houses, and Victorians, plus a smaller number of newer conversions. Units vary widely, and so does what you get, since a rehabbed flat in a restored row house and an unrenovated unit in the same block are different products at different prices.

As of August 31, 2026, the average rent in Soulard is approximately $1,508 per month, according to RentCafe, against a St. Louis citywide average of $1,444. Soulard sits slightly above the city average, which is consistent with a walkable historic district close to downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions: Living in Soulard, St. Louis

Is Soulard a good place to live?

Niche gives Soulard an overall A grade and ranks it #23 among St. Louis neighborhoods for 2026, with an A+ for nightlife and A-range grades for commute, jobs, and outdoor activities. It is a dense, walkable historic district about a mile south of downtown, popular with young professionals, where 64% of residents rent rather than own.

What is the average rent in Soulard?

As of August 31, 2026, average rent in Soulard is approximately $1,508 per month according to RentCafe, compared with a St. Louis citywide average of $1,444. Actual rates vary widely, since Soulard’s housing stock ranges from unrenovated units in 19th century buildings to fully restored historic flats.

Is Soulard walkable?

Yes. Soulard is a dense historic district of about six-tenths of a square mile, and its restaurants, bars, live music venues, farmers market, and parks are reachable on foot from most residential streets north of Lynch Street. The neighborhood is served by MetroBus, with the nearest MetroLink stations located downtown.

What kind of housing is available for rent in Soulard?

Soulard’s rental housing is predominantly historic, including brick row houses, alley houses, Victorians, and flats within 19th century buildings, along with some newer conversions. Condition and finish vary considerably between buildings. With 64% of residents renting, availability turns over more regularly than in many St. Louis historic districts.

Find Your Next Home in Soulard

Deca Property Management manages rental homes and apartments in Soulard and throughout south St. Louis, from historic flats near the farmers market to larger units in restored row houses. Browse current availability, review our rental criteria, or start your application today. Questions about a specific property or about what living in Soulard is actually like? Contact us and our leasing team will help.