The “Goldilocks” suburb

[Anonymous]

I’m a daughter of immigrants and a Chicago transplant (born/raised in Northern Virginia), and I’m eventually looking to move to a suburb in the Chicagoland area. My fiancé and I love the city’s restaurants, the cultural offerings, etc, but want the peace, quiet, safety, and space that the suburbs offer. I also love being close to the lake and the beaches. I’m happy to take the Metra/CTA in or drive when needed — neither my fiancé nor I regularly commute downtown. I maybe go once every two weeks or on the weekends.

I realize a *lot* of people directly from my parents’ country of origin live in the Chicagoland area, and while I LOVE my cultural background and everything it has to offer, I notice that my fiancé and I just tend to gel better socially with other American-born people (of all races.) I hold zero ill will towards immigrants or their descendants, just being honest about my personal experience.

I also know that some suburban communities can be very unwelcoming to people who look like me & my fiancé, and I want to make sure we’re not stepping on a landmine socially.

What suburbs would you recommend that I look into with these factors in mind? (Factors include being close to the lake, population mix is reasonably diverse, safe, spacious, good schools for future kids, and a decent downtown area.)

[Anonymous]

Not fully understanding the cultural part of this post but I'd go with Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Skokie, Libertyville, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not fully understanding the cultural part of this post but I'd go with Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Skokie, Libertyville, etc.

Sorry, trying to remain relatively anonymous. My family is from a South Asian country, if that helps at all. Based on the demographics, I’ve avoided looking at Naperville or Skokie. Evanston is wonderful, but I haven’t found much housing stock that I like around there. I’ll have to give it another look.

[Anonymous]

I went to Northwestern for undergrad and love the housing stock in Evanston. I also lived there for a few years after college. Lots of great houses and parts of Evanston are right on the lake.

[Anonymous]

I’ll give Evanston another shot! How are the public/private schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll give Evanston another shot! How are the public/private schools?

Evanston is great, but nice houses are really expensive. Schools seem pretty good to excellent and there are several privates. I know many professionals who are satisfied with the public schools. I think it'd be both a good place to live without kids - and with.

With kids, I'd also look to Wilmette. It's pretty boring without kids, but has less crime and arguably better schools than Evanston. Also expensive real estate. All of the nice suburbs on the lake have expensive real estate. If you're willing to look in Highland Park, I think they have awesome houses - both 100 year old gorgeous homes and cool mid-century properties near ravines. And it's cheaper to live near the lake than in the more southern suburbs.

Before you buy, why not try renting is a suburb and see how it feels?

[Anonymous]

Not close to the Lake, but I live in Oak Park and love it. It is super diverse. Recently, this diversity has included a lot more South Asian families if that's a consideration.

[Anonymous]

Oak Park is very diverse. I have a few friends who live there and they absolutely love it. Check out Downers Grove as well.

[Anonymous]

I grew up there (New Trier-feeding suburb), so my knowledge is older, but my sense is that without kids, anything north of Evanston is going to be socially hard b/c you won't find many other young professional couples without children. Evanston is your best bet for now, and then you could always move to Wilmette or Highland Park in the future for better schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll give Evanston another shot! How are the public/private schools?

Evanston is great, but nice houses are really expensive. Schools seem pretty good to excellent and there are several privates. I know many professionals who are satisfied with the public schools. I think it'd be both a good place to live without kids - and with.

With kids, I'd also look to Wilmette. It's pretty boring without kids, but has less crime and arguably better schools than Evanston. Also expensive real estate. All of the nice suburbs on the lake have expensive real estate. If you're willing to look in Highland Park, I think they have awesome houses - both 100 year old gorgeous homes and cool mid-century properties near ravines. And it's cheaper to live near the lake than in the more southern suburbs.

Before you buy, why not try renting is a suburb and see how it feels?

DP, and Wilmette is gorgeous, but it's just as pricey as Evanston and less diverse. Evanston is one of the more diverse North Shore suburbs, which I see as a real plus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll give Evanston another shot! How are the public/private schools?

Evanston is great, but nice houses are really expensive. Schools seem pretty good to excellent and there are several privates. I know many professionals who are satisfied with the public schools. I think it'd be both a good place to live without kids - and with.

With kids, I'd also look to Wilmette. It's pretty boring without kids, but has less crime and arguably better schools than Evanston. Also expensive real estate. All of the nice suburbs on the lake have expensive real estate. If you're willing to look in Highland Park, I think they have awesome houses - both 100 year old gorgeous homes and cool mid-century properties near ravines. And it's cheaper to live near the lake than in the more southern suburbs.

Before you buy, why not try renting is a suburb and see how it feels?

DP, and Wilmette is gorgeous, but it's just as pricey as Evanston and less diverse. Evanston is one of the more diverse North Shore suburbs, which I see as a real plus.

PP. I suggested Wilmette as the schools are better and safety is an issue for OP. Evanston in many ways is more like a small city than a suburb. The areas of Evanston with lower crime look a lot like Wilmette in nearly every way. Wilmette is close to the Evanston amenities, and depending on where you live, a quick trip downtown. And west Wilmette is pretty diverse. Wilmette went like 70-80% (don't recall exactly) for Biden. It's definitely one of the more liberal affluent suburbs. Surprisingly, in my Glenview neighborhood, fully 40% of my neighbors voted for Trump in the last election.

[Anonymous]

Look at the bedroom communities of La grange, Berwyn etc along the BNSF line. Easy to get into the city, varied housing stock and walkable communities.

[Anonymous]

I’ll add:

Evanston has multiple town centers with restaurants that don’t feel like a mall. Super quick and easy public transit or car to get into Chicago

Wilmette some restaurants (some town some mall) and fairly quick and easy public transit or car to Chicago.

[Anonymous]

My DD goes to college in Evanston and I have spent a fair amount of time there. It's a great little town IMO although I don't have a feel for real estate prices.

[Anonymous]

Check out the part of Skokie that feeds into the Evanston school district.

Good luck