Minority fits to Northbrook? (Chicago, Naperville: apartment, rent, houses)

[ChicagoJL]

This is the first post for me. Hope you guys can help me!

We are Asian and living in the state for eight years. We have two small children and look for the good elementary school area to buy a house.

Currently, we rent an apartment in Chicago Loop. One of our child goes to a private school in the loop. As a foreigner, we don't feel comfortable on such things as social events (fund raising and so etc!). Especially. we feel somewhat isolated as those snobbish folks are not willing to hang out Asian minorities.... So the private school in the loop is not our ideal choice, though our child does not feel that way.....

We are considering to move to NW suburbs to send children to top ranked public schools as we believe that the education is the most important for minority kids to succeed in the states.

My husband works in downtown and I am a stay-home mother. We have $1M budget and consider Northbrook area.

Do you think that people in Northbrook area is as snobbish as people in the downtown sending kids to private school? For Asian minority, is that area good place to be in next ten year? Even not comfortable, is the school good enough for kids to compensate the "uncomfortable" situation for parents?

Many thanks-

[Sunsmile]

West Northbrook is 10% Asian. Foreigners are pretty common in Northbrook.

If your husband works Downtown, the commute will be pretty bad. Did you consider West Wilmette? West Wilmette is also fairly diverse and is closer to Downtown.

Before buying anything in any suburb, RENT FIRST. The houses (especially in $1M budget) are impossible to sell these days and will get you trapped. By renting, you'll get to know the area better and will make sure it's a good fit before making a commitment.

[chitown85]

Asians are very welcome in Northbrook. Northbrook has a lot of Asians and Jews. Those two groups tend to get along well. Both value education. Northbrook is a north suburb though. $1 million is plenty for a house. You will not have a problem being accepted into the social scene.

If your husband will take the METRA train from Northbrook, it is on the Milwaukee District North line. There is one Northbrook station on Lake Cook Road and another on Shermer Road. The commute to the Loop is about 40 minutes. Driving is a lot longer if during rush hour times.

NW suburbs are Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling, Barrington, etc. in case you are looking for NW suburbs.

[ChicagoJL]

Hi Sunsmile, thank you for your comment. We are considering Northbrook, Glenview, and Wilmette as well. Any difference except commute? Many thanks!

[ChicagoJL]

Hi, Chitown85, Thank you for correcting my mistake. We are looking in North Suburbs
We are happy to hear that Asians are very welcome in Northbrook. Should we rent first? West Northbrook might be better for Asian?
Many thanks!

[chet everett]

... I would be looking at owns higher up on the desirability scale than Northbrook.

Commute to downtown via Metra makes many towns well with reach.

I would be focused on Winnetka on the north line or Hinsdale on the BNSF.

[ChicagoJL]

Thank you for your answer.
Not necessary to spend for large house, but we want to find an area where public school is decent and minority is welcome.
Do you think Winnetka and Hinsdale are better options from this point of view? Many thanks!!

[chitown85]

I don't think Winnetka and Hinsdale are better for Asian families. Winnetka is still kind of closed, similar to what you are feeling now. Hinsdale is the same way. Mostly White Protestant. This is changing, but slowly. If you were to look in the west suburbs, Naperville, but it is hard to commute into the city because the train station is very crowded to park.

Northbrook has a lot of Asian families. Buffalo Grove is heavily Asian and Jewish as well and it is a NW suburb with a very good high school.

Northbrook has the good schools, only 40 minutes on the train to the Loop, and a lot of Asian families.

[ChicagoJL]

Thank you for your comment again!
We a kind of like Northbrook. Do you suggest renting first?
Downtown Northbrook (Metra station area) has many minority?
Again, thank you so much!!

[Sunsmile]

West Glenview is even more diverse than Northbrook, and has lots of Asians. Wilmette goes to New Trier high school, which might be a positive or negative - depends on how you look at it.

Don't buy in Winnetka! There are almost no Asians there, and the community is pretty snobby. Same for Highland Park, Glencoe, Lake Forest and Kennilworth... these are not comfortable places for foreigners.