What Chicago suburbs are nice?

[Anonymous]

If I moved back to Chicago, if I couldn't live downtown I'd live in Evanston. That said, I like UChicago Lab School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winnetka, Wilmette, Evanston, Kenilworth, Lake Forest on the north shore. Barrington if you want to be a ways out (always reminds me of Great Falls)
Oak Park and Hinsdale west of the city.

Ditto on all these and would add Glencoe and Western Springs

[Anonymous]

Loved growing up in Glencoe - beach access, great activities, walkable. Bus/el to city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Cabrini Green...??

This is so not necessary. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Cabrini Green...??

This is so not necessary. Go away.

Plus Cabrini-Green is gone. Last high rises went down almost 10 years ago, replaced by mixed income housing developments. We lived there at the tail end and enjoyed it quite a lot. I’m sure it’s nicer now.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Glenview, went to Glenbrook South and would love to move back there to raise my own kids. Amazing education and an idyllic environment. Less competitive and more diverse compared to New Trier and just a better school and community culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Lake Forest. It is beautiful and lots of nice houses but it is very country club suburban (to use the words of another poster). I'd prefer Evanston or Oak Park as more urban suburban places. Oak Park would definitely be my pick. Much more historic and lovely but not snooty.

Prices are notably lower than in DC. Here's what you get for around $900,000 a few blocks from the center of Oak Park:

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/301-N-Elmwood-Ave-60302/home/13271453

One thing to consider, though, is the taxes. The owners of that house paid $23K last year in property taxes alone...if your budget is $900K here, you'd have to shift it down quite a bit to get a similar PITI in Oak Park.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Oak Park for 6 years and for all its liberal leanings, it's very racially and economically segregated. A local housing office tries to fight the good fight, but they hardly make a dent. That said, it's very pretty and walkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I moved back to Chicago, if I couldn't live downtown I'd live in Evanston. That said, I like UChicago Lab School.

+1, though I'm biased as a Northwestern grad. Evanston is terrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Budget is up to $1 million. Live in WL district in Arlington and like it. I have heard not so great things about the north shore area, particularly those feeding into New Trier- the whole conspicuous consumption, rich kid affluenza thing. And a total pressure cooker environment. True or not?

We like neighborhoods with sidewalks, trees, prefer older homes although new homes are fine but very much against tract homes, cul-de-sac-y type subdivisions.

Oak Park sounds like a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I moved back to Chicago, if I couldn't live downtown I'd live in Evanston. That said, I like UChicago Lab School.

+1, though I'm biased as a Northwestern grad. Evanston is terrific.

The Northwestern U area along/near the lake is fabulous. As a Chicagoan living in DC, I wanted DD to go to Northwestern but got an offer to an Ivy. We were home (Chicago) for the holidays and drove through NU. DD loves Chi and still regrets not attending NU. But that's a story for another forum.

[Anonymous]

+1 for Barrington. Has a wonderful little Downtown. Probably has the second most prestige after the North Shore for Chicagoland burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Lake Forest. It is beautiful and lots of nice houses but it is very country club suburban (to use the words of another poster). I'd prefer Evanston or Oak Park as more urban suburban places. Oak Park would definitely be my pick. Much more historic and lovely but not snooty.

Prices are notably lower than in DC. Here's what you get for around $900,000 a few blocks from the center of Oak Park:

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/301-N-Elmwood-Ave-60302/home/13271453

One thing to consider, though, is the taxes. The owners of that house paid $23K last year in property taxes alone...if your budget is $900K here, you'd have to shift it down quite a bit to get a similar PITI in Oak Park.

Property taxes are very high in Illinois it’s true. We are relocating to one of the north shore suburbs and our logic is we pay 20k per year in property taxes to have private school quality education in the public schools there. So for 20k for 2 kids that’s a steal! In DC metro you’d pay 40-50k for private school for just one kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Lake Forest. It is beautiful and lots of nice houses but it is very country club suburban (to use the words of another poster). I'd prefer Evanston or Oak Park as more urban suburban places. Oak Park would definitely be my pick. Much more historic and lovely but not snooty.

Prices are notably lower than in DC. Here's what you get for around $900,000 a few blocks from the center of Oak Park:

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Oak-Park/301-N-Elmwood-Ave-60302/home/13271453

One thing to consider, though, is the taxes. The owners of that house paid $23K last year in property taxes alone...if your budget is $900K here, you'd have to shift it down quite a bit to get a similar PITI in Oak Park.

Property taxes are very high in Illinois it’s true. We are relocating to one of the north shore suburbs and our logic is we pay 20k per year in property taxes to have private school quality education in the public schools there. So for 20k for 2 kids that’s a steal! In DC metro you’d pay 40-50k for private school for just one kid.

New Trier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budget is up to $1 million. Live in WL district in Arlington and like it. I have heard not so great things about the north shore area, particularly those feeding into New Trier- the whole conspicuous consumption, rich kid affluenza thing. And a total pressure cooker environment. True or not?

We like neighborhoods with sidewalks, trees, prefer older homes although new homes are fine but very much against tract homes, cul-de-sac-y type subdivisions.

Oak Park sounds like a good fit.

Oak Park or evanston seem like they would be a good fit. Maybe watch America to Me to give yourself a feel for Oak Park...