With one of the lowest property tax rates in the area yet providing many services, this city of about 12,000 residents has lots of vigor and plenty of commercial space just waiting to be repurposed into a new life.

It has a range of home sizes and styles, and parks are nestled within numerous neighborhoods. The city's Whitecliff Park is an 85-acre preserve in part, backing up to the border of Grant's Farm, an animal preserve. Trails wind around a former quarry at Whitecliff and the quarry is now a tranquil lake/pond. The park shares space with a community center, pools, gyms and all kinds of recreation opportunities.

Crestwood public schools include the notable Lindbergh district, private boarding school Thomas Jefferson, a regional technical public high school and numerous faith-based private schools. 

Crestwood's governing body, a mayor and board of eight elected alderman meet twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays, at 7pm at the Government Center. A staff city administrator runs the day-to-day operations of government and is charged with carrying out the directives of the board.