Recent thoughts on Chicago burbs

[Anonymous]

I took a preliminary trip to Chicago as I am considering moving. I had some quick impressions of suburbs. I’ve lived in DC (Cleveland Park, Columbia Heights/U Street) as well as in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

Evanston: I expected to like it more. Lots of dumpy/seedy parts. Beautiful houses near the lake, but of course those houses are $2mill to start. Downtown has lots of retail but again wasn’t very attractive. Housing was surprisingly expensive here. Is this because of the University or it’s proximity to the lake? Took absolutely forever to get to and from Chicago.

Wilmette: There’s nothing here! All houses, row after row with no retail. Western part had dumpy houses, exactly what I’d pictured the Midwest to be - tiny ranch homes from the 50s or 70s with jacked up roads and flat land. Eastern part had larger and more well kept houses, but there was absolutely zero retail. I drove the main strips and saw two hardware stores, a get, a dog washing place, a mail shop, and a sushi restaurant. Walking around, I didn’t see anyone under the age of 55.

Oak Park: beautiful houses in the central part of Oak Park. The western bits were surprisingly seedy as you got closer to Forest Park. Austin Blvd and further east started looking more like Jersey and Harlem. Coming from Silver Spring and Arlington/Falls Church City, I expected Oak Park to be more in your face liberal. It did have some BLM signs, but not like the DMV. I didn’t see any prayer flags up, for example. I’m surprised at the number of houses here sitting on the market when it’s the only suburb I’d consider living in so far. Is it the high taxes?

[Anonymous]

What are you looking for? Where will you work and how do you plan to get there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you looking for? Where will you work and how do you plan to get there?

A dog party!
A big dog party!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you looking for? Where will you work and how do you plan to get there?

Basically looking for Arlington/Takoma Park in Chicago. Job would be a transfer and office is downtown. I would take the train.

[Anonymous]

I recommend the western suburbs. Hinsdale, Naperville, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recommend the western suburbs. Hinsdale, Naperville, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills.

Aren't these areas all an hour or more away from downtown Chicago? That would not be doable to me.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Chicagoland and Oak Park is the only place I’d consider living too if I wasn’t in the city. The property taxes are CRAZY. And houses are on the market because Illinois as a state is a complete dumpster fire and people are leaving to move to Indiana. Indiana? Yes, Indiana.

[Anonymous]

Why are you limiting your search to the burbs? You can get the short commute and more character in some parts of the city. Arlington and Takoma park are very different in the DMV. Parts of Takoma Park have that seedy vibe like Evanston and Oak Park. Arlington has areas with row upon row of tract homes. Same in comparable suburbs of Chicago. Except Arlington County is huge and in Chicago would be divided into different areas and towns of the western /northern burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Chicagoland and Oak Park is the only place I’d consider living too if I wasn’t in the city. The property taxes are CRAZY. And houses are on the market because Illinois as a state is a complete dumpster fire and people are leaving to move to Indiana. Indiana? Yes, Indiana.

Like... can you imagine the price of this house in the DMV? Property taxes are twice as much as my million dollar Arlington sh*tshack.

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/615-N-Oak-Park-Ave-60302/home/13272825?utm_source=ios_share&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_nooverride=1&utm_content=link" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/615-N-Oak-Park-Ave-60302/home/13272825?utm_source=ios_share&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_nooverride=1&utm_content=link

[Anonymous]

Is living in Chicago not an option? I lived in Lincoln Square and it had the vibe you are looking for, a little more urban but still homes with yards. Otherwise, Oak Park or Evanston are your best bets. Younger people live in Wilmette because housing stock is more affordable but they drive into Evanston for retail or the malls further north/west.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recommend the western suburbs. Hinsdale, Naperville, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills.

These are not at all comparable to Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is living in Chicago not an option? I lived in Lincoln Square and it had the vibe you are looking for, a little more urban but still homes with yards. Otherwise, Oak Park or Evanston are your best bets. Younger people live in Wilmette because housing stock is more affordable but they drive into Evanston for retail or the malls further north/west.

PS also the city has way better dining and shopping than the burbs, or the DMV. So wherever you end up, consider that you will want to participate in that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is living in Chicago not an option? I lived in Lincoln Square and it had the vibe you are looking for, a little more urban but still homes with yards. Otherwise, Oak Park or Evanston are your best bets. Younger people live in Wilmette because housing stock is more affordable but they drive into Evanston for retail or the malls further north/west.

DP. I love Lincoln Square...besides the strong Cubs vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you looking for? Where will you work and how do you plan to get there?

Basically looking for Arlington/Takoma Park in Chicago. Job would be a transfer and office is downtown. I would take the train.

Arlington and TKPK are really quite different. You should be more specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recommend the western suburbs. Hinsdale, Naperville, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills.

Aren't these areas all an hour or more away from downtown Chicago? That would not be doable to me.

I used to live in Hinsdale and it was only 30 minutes to downtown on the train. Not bad at all.