Suburbs with walkable "cores" along metra lines (Chicago: 2015, apartment)

[Nickythebean]

I am in love with Glen Ellyn and its quaint little downtown area. I have read on these forums that suburbs with a walkable "core" are desirable and, it is my assumption, promote a sense of community. My husband, however, does not want to pay Glen Ellyn prices. He would like more bang for his buck.

He will be working at a hospital near Humboldt Park, and the closest Metra stops are either Kenzie (if coming from Glen Ellyn) or Western Avenue (if coming in on the Milwaukee North line or the NCS line). (I know, I know - those stops are still 1 mile from the hospital, but my husband thinks he will enjoy the walk.) Assuming he does take the Metra and walks to the hospital, what suburbs along those lines (Milwaukee North and NCS) have walkable downtown "cores"?

If you want to suggest a particular suburb, let me give you some ideas of what we need, in order of most important to least important:

Excellent public schools
Commute (from station to station) under 1 hour
Vibrant and conservative Catholic parish

Budget up to $700k

[holl1ngsworth]

Among desirable suburbs that deliver more bang-for-your-buck than Glen Ellyn, neighboring Wheaton is tough to beat. Full of Rockwell-esque appeal and small-town charm, it also has one of the most vibrant downtown districts in suburban Chicagoland. My wife and I moved from the city (Chicago) to Wheaton two years ago, kids in tow, and we couldn't be happier. The schools are outstanding, the neighbors are friendly, and the streets are incredibly safe. So safe in fact, that Wheaton recently ranked as Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed.

Here's a sampling of the many things that keep us busy (and happy) with the kids in Wheaton:

• Cosley Zoo: Wheaton's own zoo. Featuring local wildlife & native domestic animals plus ponds, a barn & natural habitats.
• Danada Equestrian Center: Former estate turned park, featuring publicly owned equestrian center with educational and recreational enrichment programs. Riding lessons start at age 9.
• Cantigny Park: Former estate turned park, featuring locally-renowned formal gardens, first class museums, and the number two ranked public golf course in Illinois.
• St. James Farm: Former estate turned park, featuring over 100 acres of natural preserve, several commissioned works of art by world renowned artists, beautiful allées, and an assortment of historic buildings, including a 62-stall stable, 1.5-mile steeplechase track, dressage and jumping arenas, a dairy barn and various outbuildings.
• Kline Creek Farm: Living history farm with plenty of seasonal activities and events that get kids involved.
• Illinois Prairie Path: America's first rails-to-trails conversion, featuring over 60 miles of uninterrupted, greenery-lined trails that stretch throughout Chicagoland and make numerous connections to local preserves and parks. All three branches start in downtown Wheaton.
• Downtown Wheaton: Restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee houses, bakeries, children's boutiques, Mariano's grocery store, a history museum, an extensive library, an outdoor French market and so much more.
• Wheaton Park District: Manages over 800-acres of green space throughout the city as well as two community pools (one a full-on waterpark), and offers one of the deepest catalogs of activities, camps, and programs for children in Chicagoland. Check out our new summer 2015 catalog for youth and family: 2015 Summer Y&F. There are additional catalogs for adults, expanded aquatics and the other three seasons.
• Metra Stations: Two convenient UP-W Metra stations (one at downtown Wheaton, one at Wheaton College) help make Wheaton one of the top transit suburbs in Chicagoland -- and means day trips to Chicago with the kids are a breeze.
• French Market: Every Saturday in the downtown district. Spring, summer and fall are outdoors, during winter it's moved indoors.
• Friday Night Cars, Festivals, Parades and much more: Wine, beer, food, cultural arts and many more festivals throughout the year, a parade for every season, concerts, and even Shakespeare in the park. There's always something fun to look forward to...

Wheaton has recently been featured on several "best of" lists:

Chicago's Best Places to Live | Chicago Magazine: Top 12
100 Best US Cities for Young Families | Apartment List: #12
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
Lowest Unemployment Rates in Illinois | Reboot Illinois: #5
Top Metra Suburbs of Chicago | Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development: #6

[holl1ngsworth]

RE: Wheaton

This 5-bed home just came to market in a scenic part of town and is an outstanding value $/sqft:

1533 Gamon Road WHEATON, IL 60189 | Redfin

[Lookout Kid]

Wheaton is a little less expensive than Glen Ellyn... Not a lot, but a little. Any other less-expensive option on the UP-W line that meets your criteria will be further west, like Geneva. THAT is a long commute. Elmhurst is really not more affordable.

Most of the nicer options on the MD-N line, like Northbrook and Glenview, are more expensive. The northern suburbs don't typically give you any break in price compared to the western suburbs. Maybe Libertyville? Again, it is really far out.

I don't think any of the towns on the NCS line have the historic, walkable cores that you are looking for.

The BNSF Metra line has many nice options, but that train doesn't go where you need it to.

[4122]

Geneva and Wheaton would be the only towns that could work and are on the NCS. You could maybe live somewhere on the BNSF line and drive to a station on the NCS line if you're willing to.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by 4122

Geneva and Wheaton would be the only towns that could work and are on the NCS. You could maybe live somewhere on the BNSF line and drive to a station on the NCS line if you're willing to.

You mean UP-W (Union Pacific West), not NCS (North Central Service), correct?

[oakparkdude]

Does he really want to walk from the Kedzie station to Norwegian American Hospital?

[JJski]

you may want to try before you buy...

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

Does he really want to walk from the Kedzie station to Norwegian American Hospital?

Even if the OP (or I guess hubby...) is some kind of ultra dedicated supporter of walking / public transit it seems kinda NUTTY to make that commute mode a condition of where they choose to live. Even if they did rely on the CTA #52 bus that technically sorta does connect the UP-W line Kedzie station to Norwegian American Hospital that bus ride is about at least a quarter of an hour and the neighbor is, in the most generous assessment, "sketchy" to borderline dangerous. Even physicians that live inside Chicago tend to recognize that too many variables make public transit over more than a few excellent routes a risky proposition for office hours to say nothing of surgery or ER...

[4122]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

You mean UP-W (Union Pacific West), not NCS (North Central Service), correct?

Yes. Not sure why I typed NCS.