Naperville vs Chicago(Lincoln park, lakeview) (Norwood: middle-class, apartments, to rent)

[tiyakhambadkone]

I selected 2 apartments. One in Naperville and another one in Lakeview chicago. I compared them for a family of 2 kids and husband wife both working in downtown.

I have attached my comparison. Please tell me if my comparison is incorrect. May be I am wrong with the cost/price OR commute time.

Can you tell me which one is better for a family and why?

Also, 2 kids childcare cost is super-high in Chicago and even Naperville.
How should a normal middle class family manage?
How people manage 2 children care when both husband and wife are working and have no family/friends nearby?

[Clark&Addison]

A normal middle-class family would manage by not living in an expensive area such as those you mentioned I would imagine.

[tiyakhambadkone]

Thanks for your response.
Which are the safe neighborhoods (at a commutable distance to Chicago downtown) with good schools where daycare cost is not super-high and rent is also affordable?

[jman07]

Transportation costs to work will be higher in Naperville. You should also get a smaller place in the city.

[tiyakhambadkone]

A smaller place in the city is okay but I want good schools and i found out that Lincoln park and Lakeview has good schools. However even a 2 bed room apt for a family of 4 costs $2500+ and daycare cost EVERYWHERE for 2 kids is super-duper-high.

[JJski]

Daycare for us costs 315/week 4y old + 375/week for a 1y old... That includes food on the plus side...

Its definitely expensive out here...

Around us (la grange) some neighbors pool kids and get a professional nanny they(good ones) are not cheap - but that still saves costs or utilize in home day cares which are cheaper than the large daycare centers ... i think if you locate in a good and strong community with great neighbors these do become options...

[Clark&Addison]

Try the Northwest side of the city. Very safe, easy commute downtown via the blue line or in some cases the Metra, very good k-8 schools and a decent high school, and prices that would match what you are looking for. You could probably find a house to rent for less than a Lincoln Park apartment.

[knitgirl]

Where are you moving from?

[ToriaT]

I'd scrap Lakeview as a location to raise a family unless you have lots of money. Schools in Chicago are not good and its tricky to get your kids in one that is good and it may be located far from where you live. Its very congested there and not conducive to family life unless you own a nice large home in Lakeview somewhere. I'd pick Naperville or even another suburb to live in. If you insist on the city then pick a place like Lincoln Square, Norwood Park, Edgebrook, etc. They are further out there is more space and more conducive to families.

[Clark&Addison]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

Schools in Chicago are not good

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I have too call out misleading blanket statements like this regarding CPS (or in this case simply "Chicago") schools whenever I see them.


CPS schools range from hell holes to some of the best in the nation. Lakeview is served by some of the best elementary schools the City has to offer (Nettlehorst, Blaine), as are Edgebrook and much of Lincoln Square. For the most part, any good family-friendly neighborhood that gets mentioned on these forums is served by high-quality K-8 schools.

High schools range from the exceptional selective enrollments, quality neighborhood schools with IB programs (Taft, LP), good magnets like Von Steuben, neighborhood schools that are improving but leave something to be desired (LV, Amundsen), and schools that no parent would ever want there kids to attend. There are also dozens of private, parochial, and charter schools ranging from hugely expensive to relatively cheap to free in the case of charter schools.

Trying to characterize the second largest school system in the country with a statement like "Schools in Chicago are not good" does not help people like the OP who are seeking useful information.