Where to live if MDW based...

[msmb]

I'm looking for some information....If I was to be MDW based, where are some good places to live in/around Chicago? I have 2 young kids so we are looking for area's that are nice, family friendly neighborhoods. I don't mind having to drive a bit, I don't want to commute. I've heard some people live in Indiana and drive over. Any info. is appreciated. Thanks in advance...

 

[CitationLover]

i was raised in NW indiana (Hobart). basically you have the haves: Munster, Valparaiso (that's where all the "rich" people live).

and the have nots: the rest.

The area is a little expensive all around, but for schools, etc you could look at some nice NW suburbs like Lincolnshire, Barrington, but they are boocoo bucks. Stevenson HS (Lincolnshire) is usually rated in the top 50 high schools in the country.

Any 'burb in the NW isn't so bad. The near west burbs are very nice too (Downers Grove, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Lisle, etc) and are much closer to MDW than the NW burbs.

good luck! Chicago is a great city.

 

[crxpilot]

We lived in Schaumburg when i worked at OHare. Nice family friendly area of Chicago and lots of things to do.

 

[Ralph Wiggums]

Look at La Grange/La Grange Park/Brookfield.

La Grange has a mix of older Victorians and four squares (beautiful) and some 60s vintage houses that are less money. Great downtown, great train service to the Loop, good schools, and twenty minutes to MDW but you'd never know you were that close by looking at your neighborhood.

La Grange Park is next door to the north...much the same.

Brookfield is more affordable with smaller homes (lots of traditional Chicago brick bungalows...our first house and we loved it)...schools still OK but not the best in the suburbs.

If you have more money, look a little further west in Western Springs ($$) or Hinsdale ($$$$).

All of these options are closer than Downers Grove, etc. (However, DG is still only a half hour to 40 minutes in traffic.)

Despite what Mega says, you'll love Chicago.

 

[kwick]

Oak Lawn is a nice suburb and it's just south of Midway. Good train access to downtown. Very close.

 

[SaabStory]

Glen Ellyn guy here...love it. Small, kid place, great little downtown within walking distance, good schools, etc. Check it out. Lived downtown (Lakeview) for years & moved out here when the kids arrived. Was MDW based for 5 years...very easy commute. Can drive in 30-45 mins, or walk from the house to the train & make it in an hour & a half at the most. It's a very nice town.

 

[Ralph Wiggums]

If you are looking for a new house, Plainfield is booming. I can make it to MDW is 32 minutes during non rush hour times.

Or an hour and a half during morning rush hour...

 

[stlflyguy]

Or that there's two seasons....winter and construction.

stlflyguy

 

[njcapt]

Look at La Grange/La Grange Park/Brookfield.

La Grange has a mix of older Victorians and four squares (beautiful) and some 60s vintage houses that are less money. Great downtown, great train service to the Loop, good schools, and twenty minutes to MDW but you'd never know you were that close by looking at your neighborhood.

La Grange Park is next door to the north...much the same.

Brookfield is more affordable with smaller homes (lots of traditional Chicago brick bungalows...our first house and we loved it)...schools still OK but not the best in the suburbs.

If you have more money, look a little further west in Western Springs ($$) or Hinsdale ($$$$).

All of these options are closer than Downers Grove, etc. (However, DG is still only a half hour to 40 minutes in traffic.)

Despite what Mega says, you'll love Chicago.

Yeah, this.

I grew up in La Grange Park, live in Western Springs now, and have lived all along the METRA Burlington Northern line from Cicero to Hinsdale and can speak to the value of the suburbs in that area.

It all depends what your housing budget is. Decent 3BR/2BA houses in Berwyn run in the low to mid 200k's. The same in Brookfield runs 200 to 350k. La Grange Park, 250 to 450k. La Grange, 300 to 550k. Western Springs, 325 to 550k.

The difference is the quality of the public schools. LG/LGP/WS schools are exemplary. Also, no overnight street parking is allowed and there are much larger lot sizes. Frequently, you can buy a house for approximately 50k more than the lot value. This is a result of the kooky real estate market in the Chicago area.

Honestly, one of the best housing values left in the MDW area is Brookfield. I lived there for three years and found it to be a very friendly community. Riverside-Brookfield High School is one of the fastest improving small high schools in Illinois, and the western part of Brookfield is in the same Lyons Township High School district that LG/LGP/WS shares. I lived in the area south of Ogden avenue just east of Maple and it was a very quiet neighborhood one block from a gargantuan city park (Ehlert Park). One benefit of this area is that if you are looking to rent before making the decision to buy, there are a ton of nice rental four-flats in the area that go for about $850 to 1000 a month for a 2BR/1.5BA. One quirk of the area is that rentals are a superior bargain to mortgages, given the high property values.

If you are thinking about the Naperville/Plainfield area, consider the fact that the traffic on I-55 is positively miserable during the rush hours. I know it can take more than an hour to get from IL-126 in Plainfield to MDW in the morning, and the traffic getting past Weber Road in the evening can be worse. Ther worst commute for me had been 35 minutes to employee parking, and 30 back.

Lemme know if you want any more info.

 

[PTinbound]

Dude, stick with Northwest Indiana and stay out of the People's Republic of Illinois. I live in Dyer, 32 miles from MDW. Bought a 2000sq ft. 3/1.5 of 3/4 acre for 168. Taxes are cheaper and houses are half price. 55 minutes average to the parking lot so I can sit reserve at home if I need to. Hammond/Gary is the bullet zone, Griffith/Highland are a little "blue collar", but anywhere like Dyer, St. John, Schererville, Crown Point are great. Just a little farther out and it's rural if that's your flavor. Lots of options. Also, a whole lot of folks live farther East in Valpo or Chesterton. A little longer drive, but those are also nice places.

 

[SWA/FO]

DTW - flights eight times a day. 3.9% income tax + 6% sales tax...... Oh, forget it..... how about BNA!!!

 

[pianoman]

DTW - flights eight times a day. 3.9% income tax + 6% sales tax...... Oh, forget it..... how about BNA!!!

Yeah but can't you buy a house for like $7,000 up there?

 

[pw4000]

Chicago cost cash lots of it go to NW Indiana you will have a drive were ever you go that is nice.

 

[Whataburger]

Gary is nice.
Start looking 30mi west or NW of MDW if you wanna pay less than $150sq/ft.

 

[Ralph Wiggums]

Chicago cost cash lots of it go to NW Indiana you will have a drive were ever you go that is nice.

And you will also have intellectually invigorating conversations with your neighbors who all have a great command of the English language.

 

[vclean]

Chicago cost cash lots of it go to NW Indiana you will have a drive were ever you go that is nice.

This is the result of living near the toxic old steelmills.

 

[Porch]

I grew up in Ginger Creek & Chateaux Woods, a small community in Oak Brook. Very close to La Grange & Downers Grove. It's a killer area with top schools. Although, homes in that area run about $800K on the low end. If your a big SWA stud you should be able to pull that off. Westmont is also nice, ave. home there is about $400K.

 

[bearcat]

This is a funny thread. I lived in Chicago my whole life. Most of what is on here is spot on. Personally I would avoid Indiana for several reasons. All of the suburbs named are all pretty expensive unless you are from CA, NY, NJ, etc. Any of the west suburbs are expensive....period. The only parts of the Chicago area that are somewhat inexpensive are way out west or way out NW. Even the neighborhoods near Midway have become expensive.

Rent until you get a good feel for the area. There are tons of GREAT areas all over the Chicago are and I wouldn't rule out the city either. There is something for everyone in the Chicago are which is what makes it such a great place.

 

[FatesPawn]

Rent until you get a good feel for the area. There are tons of GREAT areas all over the Chicago are and I wouldn't rule out the city either. There is something for everyone in the Chicago are which is what makes it such a great place.

That's the best advice yet. Unless you MUST move a family right in to a good neighborhood, renting for a year will really give you a feel for what's around.

My only suggestion is try to rent in the area you want to buy. That'll give you a feel for the area the best.

Also, many realtor websites push new listings to your e-mail with pictures and virtual tours. You can get a really good feel for the market over a few months by looking at a couple of specific areas in your price range.

-fate

 

[Porch]

Yeah, the last 2 posts are your best bet! Good rental market in Downers Grove & good public schools there. Good private schools also; Montini (630-627-6930 Lombard, Il), & Benet Acadamy (630-719-2825 Lisle, Il). close to the Burlington Train (I think)

 

[1800 RVR]

I've lived in chicago all my life, from the actual city to the 'burbs. Myself, I like the suburban living. From raising children, that is just my preference. As for 'burbs to look at, my recs are: Geneva, St. Charles, Naperville, Barrington, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Vernon Hills, Highland Park, Evanston, in addition to those mentioned earlier in the thread. Great schools in all of these locations, house prices will be all over the board, but not knowing your finances, it is hard to tell what you will need. Depending on what kind of commute you are willing to endure will dictate which 'burbs you knock out.

For MDW, I would go with the Geneva, St. Charles, Naperville area. We are closing on a house in Geneva in a month, and we think the housing values out here are very reasonable.

 

[BE200drvr]

I would seriously take a look at Naperville, IL. Consistently rated in top ten U.S. cities to live in. Prices have been up, but deals are out there, especially now. Me personally I like St. Charles and Geneva, IL.

 

[TAWS]

Stay away from NW Indiana if you think you'll have to use 80/94 - it's constantly under construction (never-ending).
Wherever you buy, check with the county assessors office for a tax estimate - you may get sticker shock from that alone. If you buy new construction, check what your taxes will be in 2-3 years, as the taxes will take that long to catch up (unimproved land to improved land), you will not believe how much they will go up around here.

 

[chjack]

cant believe no one mentioned orland park. not a bad drive to midway, and carl sandburg h.s. is pretty good. also has a nice shopping mall for the wife.

 

[AMRCostUnit]

I lived in Gurnee from 98 to 05. North, up by 6 Flags. Loved it there. It's a bit far from MDW though. My sister in law lives in New Lennox which is just east of Joliet and toward Orland Park. Nice area and closer to MDW. Can even take the train I think.

Unit