Best options in Chicago for family of three?

[Anonymous]

We’re contemplating a potential move to Chicago. Our daughter is 6. Both of us work fully remote for jobs that are flexible. HHI is $450K, with several million in vested stock coming in over the next year or so.

We are looking for:

- 3 bedrooms
- at least small fenced outdoor backyard for 2 dogs
- walkable to stores/playgrounds

DD is in private school here in MoCo and we would be looking for the same, so any guidance on that would be terrific as well.

[Anonymous]

If you want to be in the city, SFH in Lincoln Park or Lakeview. Will have to start 1st grade apps now, knowing you are late to the game and a first grade spot at any top privates (Latin, Parker, Cook, Lab, etc) will be almost impossible to get.

North Shore suburbs: Wilmette, Winnetka, etc have great publics that feed into New Trier (huge). North Shore Country Day is a great private K-12 option- lower school is very popular. Kids leave at MS or US if they want something bigger. Also,

Bc of Covid, there was a big flood of people from city. Homes are hard to get and you need to be ready to get in a potential bidding war to get what you want.

I’m not an expert on the other burbs. With your income and budget, you should be in a good position to have options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to be in the city, SFH in Lincoln Park or Lakeview. Will have to start 1st grade apps now, knowing you are late to the game and a first grade spot at any top privates (Latin, Parker, Cook, Lab, etc) will be almost impossible to get.

North Shore suburbs: Wilmette, Winnetka, etc have great publics that feed into New Trier (huge). North Shore Country Day is a great private K-12 option- lower school is very popular. Kids leave at MS or US if they want something bigger. Also,

Bc of Covid, there was a big flood of people from city. Homes are hard to get and you need to be ready to get in a potential bidding war to get what you want.

I’m not an expert on the other burbs. With your income and budget, you should be in a good position to have options.

Thanks! We’re looking at being in the city. We have very good friends in Lincoln Park and like that neighborhood. I lived in Chicago for 2 years while in grad school, so I have some familiarity with the city.

Private school admissions is a big consideration for us. There isn’t a rush to move, so my gut is to wait until DD is entering 6th, as that’s an expansion year.

One question: I know UChicago lab school is very well regarded. I lived in Hyde Park and enjoyed it as a single person, but am not comfortable having a kid there, due to safety issues. Do many kids commute from Lincoln Park/Gold Coast?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to be in the city, SFH in Lincoln Park or Lakeview. Will have to start 1st grade apps now, knowing you are late to the game and a first grade spot at any top privates (Latin, Parker, Cook, Lab, etc) will be almost impossible to get.

North Shore suburbs: Wilmette, Winnetka, etc have great publics that feed into New Trier (huge). North Shore Country Day is a great private K-12 option- lower school is very popular. Kids leave at MS or US if they want something bigger. Also,

Bc of Covid, there was a big flood of people from city. Homes are hard to get and you need to be ready to get in a potential bidding war to get what you want.

I’m not an expert on the other burbs. With your income and budget, you should be in a good position to have options.

Thanks! We’re looking at being in the city. We have very good friends in Lincoln Park and like that neighborhood. I lived in Chicago for 2 years while in grad school, so I have some familiarity with the city.

Private school admissions is a big consideration for us. There isn’t a rush to move, so my gut is to wait until DD is entering 6th, as that’s an expansion year.

One question: I know UChicago lab school is very well regarded. I lived in Hyde Park and enjoyed it as a single person, but am not comfortable having a kid there, due to safety issues. Do many kids commute from Lincoln Park/Gold Coast?

Yes, lots of kids commute to Lab from all over the city. there is paid bus/shuttle service many families use.

To your original question - there are many neighborhoods all over the city that meet your needs including West Loop, Ukranian Village, and South Loop. And Kenwood/Hyde Park are much different than even 10 years ago, worth considering if your kid ends up at Lab.

Lastly, do some diligence on Latin. One of the elite private schools but been in some hot water lately.

[Anonymous]

The selective enrollment high schools in the city are better academics wise than any privates in the city.
Not sure what your trajectory is with the privates.

[Anonymous]

Desirable SFH in Lincoln park is going to run you 2.5M+ (don’t forget the 2% real estate tax).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to be in the city, SFH in Lincoln Park or Lakeview. Will have to start 1st grade apps now, knowing you are late to the game and a first grade spot at any top privates (Latin, Parker, Cook, Lab, etc) will be almost impossible to get.

North Shore suburbs: Wilmette, Winnetka, etc have great publics that feed into New Trier (huge). North Shore Country Day is a great private K-12 option- lower school is very popular. Kids leave at MS or US if they want something bigger. Also,

Bc of Covid, there was a big flood of people from city. Homes are hard to get and you need to be ready to get in a potential bidding war to get what you want.

I’m not an expert on the other burbs. With your income and budget, you should be in a good position to have options.

Thanks! We’re looking at being in the city. We have very good friends in Lincoln Park and like that neighborhood. I lived in Chicago for 2 years while in grad school, so I have some familiarity with the city.

Private school admissions is a big consideration for us. There isn’t a rush to move, so my gut is to wait until DD is entering 6th, as that’s an expansion year.

One question: I know UChicago lab school is very well regarded. I lived in Hyde Park and enjoyed it as a single person, but am not comfortable having a kid there, due to safety issues. Do many kids commute from Lincoln Park/Gold Coast?

Yes, lots of kids commute to Lab from all over the city. there is paid bus/shuttle service many families use.

To your original question - there are many neighborhoods all over the city that meet your needs including West Loop, Ukranian Village, and South Loop. And Kenwood/Hyde Park are much different than even 10 years ago, worth considering if your kid ends up at Lab.

Lastly, do some diligence on Latin. One of the elite private schools but been in some hot water lately.

Agree - there are lots of Lab families that live in Hyde Park/Kenwood. The safety issues there are not significantly different from other parts of the city. Since both adults WFH, I would decide on school first before selecting a neighborhood as some commutes can be considerable. For back yards at your HHI Roscoe Village, Lincoln Square and Andersonville may be better fits.

[Anonymous]

I grew up on the North Shore (Winnetka) and went to North Shore Country Day School- it is a great school!! I have so many happy childhood memories going there- highly recommend checking it out.

[Anonymous]

My sister lives in Lincoln Square with her 8 year old. They have an awesome neighborhood and community. It's so fun when we go and visit them.