Crime in Palatine? (Chicago, Waukegan, Schaumburg: low income, condo, townhomes)

[Kat100]

Hello - We have been visiting and researching suburbs for the past few months. We liked Wilmette but don't want to deal with the drug problem at New Trier (also heard that if your child is a star or needy they get attention - if they are average forget it!). We ruled out Elmhurst because of the high school trouble (low scores). Our child is only in grade school now, but we don't want to have to move again.

We had settled on Palatine, but then I saw the crime reports on city-data. Yikes! I read on some of the threads where the problem areas seem to be contained in a triangle on the NE side, but are there problems elsewhere? If we go to a restaurant in the southern or downtown part, do we need to be concerned about crime in the parking lot?

Not too much works for us as my husband works in the loop and I work in Schaumburg. In addition, our babysitter lives near the airport. We like the Palatine area, the diversity in the schools and the report cards (we'd be in the Fremd district). Can someone put my mind at ease? Or should we look elsewhere?

[pixiemama]

I live in downtown Palatine in the Fremd district. To my knowledge, Palatine's crime is more localized to some areas in the northern part of the town. I walk through the downtown all the time with my daughter in a stroller and I have never felt unsafe. The farther south you go from there, the more expensive the homes become.

[brenty]

Please, New Trier is a fabulous school. New Trier does not even take needy kids. Special Education and Delayed are placed in other schools, depending on the community. New Trier had a bad drug problem years ago but not now. It is a world class school, you could not do any better. Also if you are looking for something comprable try Evanston Township High School.

[Kat100]

Thanks pixiemama. That makes me feel better. I think we'll drive around again - maybe some weeknight - and see how we feel. We really like the schools and diversity in Palatine.

[tekka-maki]

Palatine, unsafe? Surely you jest... Even the aforementioned isolated pockets are overstated, especially compared to the likes of many other 'burbs (N. Chicago, Waukegan for starters). 97% whites last I checked and very safe to walk/job at night, I lived off Rand and 53 for a few years (across from low income housing and in front of 600k+ beautiful homes on the Palatine trail. Next I moved to down town Palatine (across from low income Palatine Apts. and behind 600k+ condo/townhomes! See a pattern? LOL... seemingly at odds, but both great, safe neighborhoods to be in and I miss it. But I had to get away from all the cold, pricey homes, and affluent summer air. 70 degrees down here in San Antonio and loving it!