Anonymous wrote:I don't know what your bar is re: schools, but I looked at Oak Park and Evanston (lived in one of those cities while thinking about where to settle) and the schools are not good enough for me. I wouldn't say that IRL, but I'll say it here. TBH we ended up in an area feeding to the Glenbrooks and it's not really good enough compared to the DMV mindset.

I'm in a Glenbrook feeder. It's fine. My oldest is in 5th and in gifted math and reading. I think the reading curriculum is pretty spectacular. The school offers supports where my child is struggling - and without parents asking.

I opted out of New Trier, where I attended. I mean, I want my kids to like learning and not get caught up in the crazy pressure cooker that I was part of and that I understand has only gotten worse. My kids don't need to go to Ivies. If they succeed at GBS, college will be petty manageable.

I don't know what your bar is re: schools, but I looked at Oak Park and Evanston (lived in one of those cities while thinking about where to settle) and the schools are not good enough for me. I wouldn't say that IRL, but I'll say it here. TBH we ended up in an area feeding to the Glenbrooks and it's not really good enough compared to the DMV mindset.

Elmhurst

You might check out Riverside. It's got a cute little downtown area and fairly welcoming to my immigrant friend who lives there.

I grew up in Wilmette. If you are South Asian, you’ll fit in fine—there are plenty of South Asian families in Wilmette. In terms of diversity there are few black and Hispanic people in Wilmette. Wilmette is a touch more diverse than Winnetka, Kennilworth, etc. but mostly Asian (both South Asian and East Asian, a few people who are Middle Eastern)

Barrington area

Winnetka/Wilmette/Kenilworth is the golden standard for suburbs here. And you’ll be a 20min bike ride from Evanston.

Darien

Villa Park or any towns in school district 88

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which Glenview neighborhood? How do you know?

Check here: https://www.citybureau.org/newswire/2020/12/22/interactive-2020-illinois-general-election-precinct-maps

I wasn't surprised by how pro-Biden Evanston is. But Wilmette surprised me. I wouldn't have expected it to be generally so much more pro-Biden than Winnetka, Glenview, and Northbrook.

I'm curious about voting as I casually begin my home search. My oldest is thriving in his current school, despite my not be enamored with our neighbors or with the school, generally. He's made friends and qualified for both the language arts and math gifted programs, so I'm hopeful he will be happy and will get a decent education. So I'm only moving out of the district if we find an amazing home. I look at the voting maps as if I move, I'd like to move somewhere where more people appear to share my family's values - and I think that seeing who voted Trump in 2020 is a blunt, but pretty good indicator.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Which Glenview neighborhood? How do you know?

I think Evanston and Wilmette are your best options. Any farther west, and you don't get the lake. Any farther north, and you lose the diversity. Evanston is far more diverse on its face than Wilmette, but like all Chicago-area suburbs, there are entirely white parts of Evanston and more diverse parts of Wilmette. And even in the whitest bits of either, someone of South Asian heritage would not stand out.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need the suburbs? Plenty of neighborhoods in the city with quiet streets, and wider lots like Roscoe Village.

Quiet is relative. My last city address was in Ravenswood Manor, which must be one of the quieter neighborhoods in Chicago. I now live in a close-in suburb on a curvy street that sees little traffic. It's so dark and so quiet. It's so peaceful outside of garbage day. My third grader walks to school. I have half an acre, which isn't terribly doable within city limits.

I love Chicago. I lived in five different Chicago neighborhoods. I miss the restaurants. But I now enjoy the space, the giant oaks, and the quiet more.

Why do you need the suburbs? Plenty of neighborhoods in the city with quiet streets, and wider lots like Roscoe Village.

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

Good luck

I second that idea. Housing costs seem to be less. I have family in that area and they loved the schools and neighbors.