Which Is better for living St. Croix or St. Thomas???

St Thomas for sure. Yup, that's where you want to go. No doubt about it.

Sutter's Mill? Never heard of it.

Oh are you going to have your hands full here! We who live on STT love it while they who live on STX love it.

It's all about what you like, what are your goals and what makes your heart flutter.

Best of luck in making the decision.

Pamela

If you need a job, & you don`t work for the local government, you`ll probably need to go to STT.
Perhaps, this can change if the Cruzians treat the cruise ship people better.

one here gave you the "safe" answer, i don`t know what type of employment you may seek.

Real Estate is MUCH cheaper in STX, as are employment opportunities.

Regarding the schools, you need to check recent post made on that subject(I don`t have kids, just practicing).
Some feel only private schools are safe, but there were diffing opinions(*some from school teachers themselves).

This question has been asked by many. And the person above said it right. STT is liked by those on St. Thomas and those on STX love it there. So you can assume that each person has found heaven. Here are some points. By the way there are about 50K people on STX and about 50K people on STT. Split almost equally.

1. You have a better chance of getting a job on STT. There are many jobs related to travel that are available. STX is not as involved with the tourist trade as STT. BUT IT IS STARTING TO GROW ON STX. So you might want to get in on the ground floor.

2. You will pay much more to live on STT. Housing, gas, cars etc are more expensive. But you can find a place on STT that is not as expensive but you will need to compromise. You won't live on the beach, but you might get a condo say at Sapphire Village. But watch out how much you pay a month due to the assesments thay pay. But you could find a place on STX.

3. If you like open space then STX is for you. If you like a more people the STT is for you. STT has traffic jams that STX does not, as a rule.

4. Bars and clubs are available on both islands. STT may have a few more. But they are not NYC!

5. There are more private schools on STT buy you will pay more.

6. If you don't like the water then don't come. If you like the warm weather then you might want to come.

Sounds like I am split. So you see there is NO answer to your question.

So it all comes down to doing a PRE MOVE VISIT. Go to both islands and see for yourself. But don't come as a tourist, come as a person looking to live there. That is the only way you will know which is best for you.

Good Luck!!!!

billd

3. If you like open space then STX is for you. If you like a more people the STT is for you. STT has traffic jams that STX does not, as a rule.

So it all comes down to doing a PRE MOVE VISIT. Go to both islands and see for yourself. But don't come as a tourist, come as a person looking to live there. That is the only way you will know which is best for you.

Good Luck!!!!

billd

Billd, my favorite is number 3. I've been living in the rain forest of St. Croix for so long that I get irritated when I have to drive through Frederiksted. "Why are there so many people here!?! I must have passed six cars!!!" 🙂

What do you mean there is no traffic on STX?
I`ve seen it, & been in it.
And, it ain`t pretty!

Traffic on STX is a walk in the park compared to STT. 5 min. through downtown C'sted compared to 30 min. through CA. We don't even have an area like Charlotte Amalie to Tutu on any Friday afternoon or from Frenchman's to town. (I've heard that has gotten better.)

Moving here (STX) from CA and seeing everyone talk about driving from East to West being "far" and "traffic" makes me giggle.
We moved here for job opportunities.

I don't think anyone that ever lived in a place with real traffic (like Wash. DC or New York) would dare to call what happens on STT "traffic". That's laughable. Driving here is a breeze, there are a few slowdowns during rare "rush hours" of the day but that's not even remotely comparable to what "traffic" is. People here are just too spoiled 🙂

I used to say that too....you haven't been here very long have you...perception changes over time!

That's exactly my point - people get to used to a good thing and start complaining about what would have been considered at most a minor inconvenience elsewhere. So, for anyone considering a move - this is exactly what it is. And for everyone else it's good to stop, look around and get a reality check compared to other places. It's easy for me since I remember it quite well 🙂 🙂

I used to say that too....you haven't been here very long have you...perception changes over time!

In Phoenix, it wasn't uncommon for us to drive thirty or forty miles to go to someone's house for dinner... but it was all flat, smoothly paved roads. Here, I won't even go to C'sted unless it is a special occasion or I have several errands to be done.

I consider myself too far east if I have to go to La Reine from West. 🙂

Just a note to those on STX who have not been to STT and the differences in traffic. Going from the airport to the east end can take about 45 minutes on a distance of about 13 miles. And going to town from the east end the traffic on Rapone hill is a killer. It can take about 30 minutes just to get down the hill, a distance of about 1 mile. Then you have town to deal with.

There are ways around the traffic but they are not much better than. The only area that I find that is like STX on STT is perhaps the north side. It is quiet and more like the country. Just like STX. There are no roads as open as those on STX on STT.

I have been to STX many times. And I have been stuck in traffic there. BUT NEVER TO THE DEGREE AND FREQUENCY OF THAT ON STT. There are far to many cars, the roads are limited and generally limited is width. The only thing they have in common is the stupidity of the drivers who what to pass you if there is five feet of open space. Double solid lines mean nothing to many of the drivers in the VI.

If anyone says that STX has traffic equal to that of STT I think they are nuts.

Now I also have lived in Southern California as well as New Jersey. I would take STT at its worst than to sit in the traffic on the 5, or the NEW Jersey Turnpike.

Everything is relative!

billd

My experience with STT was a little wierd. I was liming after I got off the first ferry in the AM from STJ and all of a sudden I was surrounded by about 2000 people who just got off a cruise ship. I guess I'm a country person at heart because I just don't like crowds. Stt is a beautiful place with some spectacular scenery and beaches but I like the wide open spaces that StX offers. It's rare that when we go to one of our favorite beaches to have more than a few people around. If I was independantly wealthy I'd probably live on STJ.

Our first time visiting St Croix,was for only one week. The second week we went to St Thomas,about half way through the week,we actually tried to get back to St Croix. Remember that old show Green Acre's , well St Croix is the place for me, Good bye city life.

Went out west (STX) this morning, and we were going to go to IHOP for lunch. As we were driving toward Sunny Isle on route 70, traffic backed up a bit about a mile west of SI. It took us about 4 minutes to get up to the Sunny Isle Annex (Sears/WAPA). My husband said something like "I've had enough, let's get out of this traffic and just go home and have lunch." LOL. I admit it. We are spoiled.

I think people are like gold fish, they adapt to their environment size.
when we first started going down to STX we thought nothing about driving around the island for something to do. Now it seems that it is a long way to drive half the island to go diving.
I know people who after living near Fsted for a couple of years will not think about driving all the way to Csted unless it absolutely necessary. Once I get back to AZ, I think nothing about driving all the way across the valley to go to lunch.:@)

Juantia, funny!!! Tell G we said Hi and we do miss you guys. But so true.. I get so mad when I have to drive near Sunny Isle, or (worse) Sion Farm! 🙂

Here is a quick summary that I posted a couple years ago for someone who asked just the same questions:

St Thomas (STT): The city island. Has the most tourists. Has the best shopping. Is cheaper than St John but more expensive than St. Croix. It's quite crowded, and crime can be a problem. However, it still has nice places and good beaches. A lot of fun can be had here if you have the right mentality. It also is the most accessible island as far as air travel goes.

St. John (STJ): The pristine jewel. By far the smallest, most crime free and quietest island. There is not one single traffic light on the entire island. 3/4 of the island is a national park, which is why it is so pristine, and has the best beaches overall. However, that means that the other 1/4 is where all the people have to live, so it is quite crowded in the inhabited areas. Finding a parking space in town is a real pain in the ass sometimes. STJ is also the most expensive island by far. Lots of rich people from the states have been building luxury second homes in the last 10 years, and as a result, property taxes, home prices, and basic goods and services have skyrocketed in price. STJ also has a large amount of tourists, although not as many as STT. A word about the crime thing: it can be misleading. While it's true that STJ has by far the least crime of the three islands, much of that is simply because it has LESS PEOPLE. There are 4,000 people on STJ and 60,000 in STT and 60,000 in STX. So naturally, STJ has less crime -- but it also has much less going on. You wouldnt compare the crime in NYC to the crime in a rural town in Pennsylvania without taking into consideration that NYC just MIGHT have a few more things to do and see. So it is with STJ.

St. Croix (STX): The country island. It's by far the largest island. It's three times bigger than STT and ten times bigger than STJ. It's large enough that you can live on the East end and drive to the Wast end and actually feel like you're "getting away". Because of the island's size, it has two distinct climates. In the East, it is more arid and desert-like. In the West, it is rainer and greener. There are plenty of areas that are still untouched by development, yet there is plenty of nightlife and things to do. Crime can be a problem, just like STT. There are FAR fewer tourists on STX than on the other two islands. STX is more of a working island with more locals going about their lives. STX is also by FAR the cheapest island to live on. Property taxes, housing prices, basic goods and services are very affordable compared to the other islands. STX is by far the most isolated island. It's 40 miles away from STT and STJ, so you can't just hop over to the BVI's for a quick daytrip like you can on the other islands. STX also has a rainforest -- it's a very special place that doesn't exist on the other islands, and I have yet to see a newcomer who isn't touched by it. The beaches are not as nice as those on STJ, but there are FAR more beaches than on STJ, and a handful of them are outstanding. This island happens to be my favorite of the three. The people just seem a bit more down to earth there, at least to me. That could just be me, though

St Croix!!! never been toSTT though. been here 2 months on stx. I'm from a small town of 500 in texas, one stoplight. Stx is the island for us country folk. I'm 26, wife and I will be raising family here. You have to look into everything that is important to you before you move, because things can bring you down if you didn't know. There is work, there is plenty of housing (all price range) and there is a lot of play. Plenty of places to go at night. Do note the crime rate. It's the worst thing about this island, always hoping my windows aren't broken out, and nervous about turning the dark corner at night. I am a nurse at the hospital, and three weeks ago we saw a fellow with 17+ gunshot wounds- so steer clear of dark alleys and shady situations. on a good note - we find more breathtaking, amazing, fun situations all the time, and we haven't even scratched the surface yet : )

Hope this helps
Happy new year everyone
Aaron and Theresa

tmleeke said it best. We should can this when the same question comes up.

billd

STT is a GREAT place to party for a night or 2. But you have to admit that STX is the place to live... so long as you don't live west.

The traffic from Hovensa is a Nightmare!!!

STT is a GREAT place to party for a night or 2. But you have to admit that STX is the place to live... so long as you don't live west.

The traffic from Hovensa is a Nightmare!!!

Just goes to show how many people have differing opinions. Some love living in St. THomas, some love St. John... and I would have said, St Croix is the place to live as long as you don't live east. 🙂

And, I would say Water Island is the best island. Quiet, safe, separate but still close to STT.