Which are the best suburbs close to Chicago?

[destoria]

I am a Physician at Northwestern, Rush, and Glenbrook and I have lived in Kenilworth for 17 years and I love it the it is a great community on the lake with a great small town feel while close to Northbrook Court and Old Orchard Shopping Malls. The average home price here is round 1.5 Million though.

I would recommend North and Northwest Cook County because of it's beauty and amenities. One problem with them none of them are affordable, but if you have time and look around you can find that cheap gem!

I would reccomend:

Evanston - pop.71,000 - average single family home:$750,000

Evanston is home to Northwestern University and two great hospitals Evanston Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital. 45 mins to Stroger

Taxes: $10-40K p/y
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Skokie - pop. 65,000 - Single Family Home:$450,000

Skokie is a thriving community with great schools and shopping. It's rich history as one of Chicago's first Jewish communities. It is right on the Edens expswy which flows to the Kennedy. 32 mins to Stroger.

Taxes $6-10K p/y
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Lincolnwood - pop 27,000 - Single Family Home: $600,000

Lincolnwood is a quiet community under going ReGentrification from Ranch homes to mansions. Large Parks, Good Schools, Close to Downtown Chicago and Sauganash. 30 mins to Stroger.
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Wilmette - pop. 25,000 - Single Family Home $750,000

Great North Shore Community home to famed Baha'i Temple and Plaza Del Lago. Great Lakefront Homes and High-Rises. Plenty of new construction
Taxes: $10-$32K p/y
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Kenilworth - pop. 2,500 - Single Family Home: $1.5 Million

My hometown- It is small and it has the best school system. Although the cheapest home on the market here is $650,000! We are the 11th most affluent community in the US so living here is highly unlikely.
Taxes $17-$150K p/y
60 mins to Stroger
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Winnetka - pop. 26,000 - SFH: $800,000

Winnetka is the most lively of the Far North Cook Suburbs it is the 2nd to last community befor Lake County which is really country in my opinion exluding Highland Park and Lake Forest People ha! It is the seat of New Trier Township.
Taxes $6-$30K
75 mins
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Glencoe - pop. 20,000 - SFH:$825,000

Last N. Cook County Suburb by far the most diverse in my opinion. It has a great Elementary and Middle School System. Wonderful quaint downtown.

Taxes: Low
100mins
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Other Places

Schaumburg- pop. 120,000 - SFH $300,000

Thriving NW Suburb i used to live here it was really great and it is changing for the better it was always nice though. Home to Woodfield mall.
30mins to stroger
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Hoffman Estates/ Barrington Area - total pop is about 90,000

Mostly new construction area.

[prairiestate]

Look in the southwest suburbs, near the Stevenson. Overall, traffic is the least horrible on the Stevenson, especially for the reverse commute. Plus, homes are generally cheaper down that way. Stickney, Countryside, Bolingbrook would be good places to start looking. Do not look up north. The only direct route would be the Tri State to the Eisenhower going to Stroger. You're looking at massive traffic backups much of the time on both roads.

[Paxtonian]

Try Elmwood Park, which oddly enough is as safe as you'll find because it's a Mafia town. They keep things quiet there, and provided you don't **** off anyone important, they'll stay out of your way. The schools are all right too, and the housing prices will fit into your range.

[cdrobert]

Dont be scared by those housing price figures. Evanstan Il, is not San Ramon CA, it is NOT that costly.

[prairiestate]

According the Chicago MLS listings, you can find 8 homes in Evanston for $250-300,000. These are the cheapest homes in town. They're small, older, frame houses, in a city with some high crime areas. I don't know where these are at, but I'm guessing they're not in the most desirable parts of town. Oh, and property taxes run $4000-5000 a year.

It's about the same situation in Oak Park, but with even higher taxes.

Certainly, not as bad as California, but I wouldn't exactly consider it a bargain. You can get a lot more house for your money in St. Louis, Milwaukee, etc.