Moving to Chicago (Elmhurst, Park Ridge, Niles: low income, best suburbs, house)

[On Air]

My family of five is making the move to Chicago in April. Both my husband and I are from Chicago, but we're from the city, so we're not too familiar with the best suburbs for families. I am going to be working in the loop, and my husband will be working at O'Hare. We've got three kids that haven't started elementary school yet (ages 5, 3, and 1). We've also got three dogs.

We do have some requirements:
-Excellent schools
-Sports, dance, art, music, etc. programs in abundance for the kids
-Close to O'Hare as well as on a Metra line. The commute on the Metra to Chicago needs to be around an hour or less.
-Able to get a nice house (4+ BR, 3+ Baths) with a large yard for around 900k.
-An extremely safe area

I'm pretty sure that's everything. Thanks!

[GooberGuy]

Originally Posted by On Air

My family of five is making the move to Chicago in April. Both my husband and I are from Chicago, but we're from the city, so we're not too familiar with the best suburbs for families. I am going to be working in the loop, and my husband will be working at O'Hare. We've got three kids that haven't started elementary school yet (ages 5, 3, and 1). We've also got three dogs.

We do have some requirements:
-Excellent schools
-Sports, dance, art, music, etc. programs in abundance for the kids
-Close to O'Hare as well as on a Metra line. The commute on the Metra to Chicago needs to be around an hour or less.
-Able to get a nice house (4+ BR, 3+ Baths) with a large yard for around 900k.
-An extremely safe area

I'm pretty sure that's everything. Thanks!

What is your price range? I would look into the suburbs along either I-290 or I-90. You might even want to move south. In that case, you will be on I-57 or I-94. For schools, try Hazel Crest, Dolton, Lansing, and Sauk Village. All the above communites have good schools and are very safe.

Avoid Matteson, Country Club Hills, Glenwood, Lynwood, Homewood, Flossmore, Olympia Fields, and the communites WEST of I-57. Those towns have very low income and are declining with changing dermographics. You also might want to cross NW Indiana off your list. Horrible schools, discount shopping, and high pollution due to the old factories in Gary/Hammond/E.Chicago.

[On Air]

What is your price range? I would look into the suburbs along either I-290 or I-90. You might even want to move south. In that case, you will be on I-57 or I-94. For schools, try Hazel Crest, Dolton, Lansing, and Sauk Village. All the above communites have good schools and are very safe.

Our price range right now is about $900k. And we will check those out. Thanks!

Avoid Matteson, Country Club Hills, Glenwood, Lynwood, Homewood, Flossmore, Olympia Fields, and the communites WEST of I-57. Those towns have very low income and are declining with changing dermographics. You also might want to cross NW Indiana off your list. Horrible schools, discount shopping, and high pollution due to the old factories in Gary/Hammond/E.Chicago.

I don't think anything south of Chicago is an option anyways because of where our jobs are. It would just be too far of a commute for my husband.

[GooberGuy]

Originally Posted by On Air

Our price range right now is about $900k. And we will check those out. Thanks!


I don't think anything south of Chicago is an option anyways because of where our jobs are. It would just be too far of a commute for my husband.

You might like Hinsdale of Western Springs. Take I-294 to O'hare and I-55 or the metra to the loop.

[On Air]

You might like Hinsdale of Western Springs. Take I-294 to O'hare and I-55 or the metra to the loop.

I've heard that's pretty expensive though, isn't it?

[GooberGuy]

Originally Posted by On Air

I've heard that's pretty expensive though, isn't it?

Well somewhat yes. The further south/east you go along I-294, the cheaper the area is. You would like Hazel Crest and maybe Markham. (Around Dixie Hwy and I-294)

[On Air]

Well somewhat yes. The further south/east you go along I-294, the cheaper the area is. You would like Hazel Crest and maybe Markham. (Around Dixie Hwy and I-294)

Alright, we'll look into the three areas. Thanks!

[On Air]

After looking into these areas, they're just too far south for us. We'd prefer to be on the North/Northwest side because of our job locations and family's location.

[tonythetuna]

Look into a place like Niles,Park Ridge or Morton Grove.

[chet everett]

When a poster chooses an odd screen name that might be a warning that their advice is not too terribly useful.


With a budget of $900k you could probably buy entire blocks listed in one of the above posts. I doubt any sane person would barely rate the schools tolerable, certainly not "excellent".

For a dual income couple, one heading towards the Loop and the other toward O'Hare the most desirable town in your price range would almost certainly be Park Ridge, though parts of Elmhurst would also ne excellent.

Western Springs is another excellent option, as would be Hinsdale and the neighboring town of Clarendon Hills, the most desirable portions of which share it's top rated D181 and D86 schools.

(note : the moderators have already been alerted to the likelihood of misinformation being used by the sort of mythical creatures that live under bridges...)