Evanston vs. northwest burbs (Chicago, Arlington Heights: condo, how much, townhouse)

[Rhondaf]

I want to get the Vox Populi on this. My husband and I (no children) are moving to Chicagoland very soon. (In fact, he starts his job in Rosemont on 7/23) We have already looked at the Arlington Heights-Buffalo Grove area. We think it's very cookie-cutter (except, in my opinion, the Scarsdale section of AH), and we are not cookie-cutter, strip-mall people. So we are thinking about Evanston and surrounds. Hear Evanston is a very vibrant community. We have about $540,000 to spend. What would you do? Take a small but charming house in Evanston ('cause that's what it looks like we can afford) or buy something bigger in the Northwest burbs? Is Evanston that much worth it for a compromise on our living space??? You can get more house where we live now (Simsbury, CT -- west of Hartford) so we're kinda spoiled.

Thanks, in advance, for your replies.

Rhonda F.

[nanannie]

No kids??I would pick Evanston.Closer to the lake,nice downtown with everything at your fingertips(shopping restaraunts)Walk to the football games at Northwestern,plus a few easy minutes to downtown Chicago.However,I wouldnt want to drive to Rosemont everyday.Check out the public transit

[pandabear]

I prefer the northwest suburbs for this reason, as nice as some inner ring suburbs are, they are just too close to the city and the cities problems for me to want to live there. The lapdog liberalism, the traffic, the crime.. small living space at more of a price..if i am going to have to deal with these things than i might as well live IN THE CITY. Not the next town over.

The northwest suburbs do get cookie cutter i cant deny that, but it really doesnt get that bad until you start getting further out past mount prospect and such. South Arlington is actually quite charming.

I love the northwest suburbs, Chicago is always a hop on the metra away. I can actually walk my dog at 2 or 3 in the morning and i dont have to worry about being mugged, there are not sections of town that one has to avoid, the homeless population is minimal, gangs are minimal...etc.

[Bogey]

How much space do you want or need? If the space is the priority, then you'll want to get more for your money further out in the burbs. If 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms sounds like the right size for you, $540,000 will buy you that in Evanston. With that, you'd get the beauty and convenience which Evanston provides.
In response to pandabear, my dog walking neighbors walk at all times of the day or night in Evanston and have a pleasant time.
If commute time is a consideration, Arlington Heights-Rosemont would save your husband about 20-30 minutes each way vs. Evanston-Rosemont commute.

We are considering a move from Evanston to a different suburb for a larger home due to our growing family size. If we do leave, we'd like to return to Evanston one day, as we really enjoy the beauty, lakeside activities, our wonderful friends and neighbors here, and the feel of the town.

[victoria to chicagoland]

Hi there!

Take advantage of the buyers market right now and get yourselves a very nice and big house in Evanston. My husband and I had a budget of 450K to buy in Evanston and thought that we would be able only to afford a condo or townhouse. Well, we ended up with a nice 3 beds, 2 bath in NW Evanston. The sellers there are desperate. They have had their houses on the market for months, even a year. Our new house had a starting asking price of 465 K and we puchased it for under 400K. I will take a look at Evanston first if that is what attracts you.
Good luck.

[Manigault]

I think Evanston is a better option than the other NW suburbs but you gotta realize that the home prices and taxes in Evanston are paying for the schools. With your lack of kids, this may be a factor.

[LadyPleiades]

I live in NW Evanston and NEVER worry about being mugged. I can walk to shops and restaurants and a small branch of the public library, bike to the lake... and that's not even downtown Evanston which has even more shopping and restaurants and the destination movie theater for the North Shore.

There is a diverse neighborhood in West/Central Evanston but it's not like the city. There is a bit of city spillover of gang activity at the HS, but, again, it's nothing like real Chicago problems.

[Rhondaf]

Thanks, everyone, for your insights. You've been helpful.

[partyman94]

if u pick evanston dont live by the high school lots of gangs also the south side of evanston its bad.

[squibs221]

evanston is a great place to live, although as mentioned above, you will be paying for a school that is not being attended by your children. also, i have lived on the south side of evanston for over 15 years and have never had a problem so i would not rule out that part of the city.