Chicago suburbs...where to start? (Aurora, Naperville: apartments, rental, home)

[chicagoboundgirl]

Hello all, been reading forums on here for a few days and it seems to be a good place to get some good information. Im going to try to give a little background as well to get good good responses to this post.

So....I am a 37 yr old african american single female relocating to Chicago area from Atlanta GA area. I do not have a job yet but work in finance and plan to look for work in the city once im closer to a move date. I have searched Chicago suburbs online for the past few weeks and there are lots of choices but its hard to get a feel for an area until you actually visit. Harder choice is to know where to visit! I know nothing of the Chicago area except what ive heard from friends and online reading. Friends just say one thing...Stay away from the south side!

I lived in NY/NJ area prior to moving to Atlanta for a job and love NY (Manhattan) but it is enormously expensive to live there unless you are making damn near 6 figures! I know Chicago is not cheap but it is a far less financial headache then NY area. Atlanta suburb apt prices are very comparable to Chicago suburbs from what I can see online and hearsay. I chose Chicago because of the mass options of things to do, culture and centralize location in the country which would allow me to travel to the east coast and the west coast less expensively as I have family and friends on both sides of the country. I am a huge baseball fan (yes a black girl that loves baseball! LETS GO METS! and hello White Sox!), love arts and museums, theatre, good restaraunts and an active social life!

What im looking for is a 1 to 2 bedroom apt outside the city. My price range is approx. $700-$1000.00 per month. I have a car but would prefer somewhere close to the train line that will allow me to commute into the city as well. I figured no more than an hour train ride would be ok if the situation requires that but of course the closer the better! Since I lived in the NY/NJ area for 6 yrs prior to Atlanta, commuting is not a problem via public transportation for me.

It is very important for me to to live in a safe area that is very diverse, meaning a good mix of white, african american, hispanic etc.. people. I have found some areas that I thought I would find interesting but they seem to get a bad rap in the diversity issue. Such as Naperville to use an example. I looked into Evanston and Oak Park but think that those areas while diverse and close to the city may be too expensive for my budget.
I also have read some post on Forest Park but cant seem to get a feel for apt prices or area online about it.

Once I pick a few areas of interest I plan to take a few trips to see them up close of course so any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!

[oakparkdude]

I don't think it should be hard to find an apt in Oak Park under $1000. I rented a two bedroom in a prime location in OP for 1200 a few years ago. Forest Park is kinda similar to Oak Park from the perspective of a non-parent but cheaper.

[SloopyJ]

This one won't be easy, because Chicago isn't known for its racial integration. That's true in the city, but is even more pronounced in the suburbs. From your personal description, I'm having a hard time seeing you in any suburbs besides Evanston or Oak Park, to be honest.

Is there a reason you aren't considering city living? I think your friends' advice to "avoid the South Side" is unfortunate. Yes, much of the South Side isn't great, but you might find some neighborhoods to be exactly what you have in mind. Hyde Park, for example, is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city and, being home to the University of Chicago, has a good intellectual vibe to it. Kenwood (Obama's home neighborhood) is next door and, while more heavily African-American, is home to many upper-income blacks. Bronzeville is another south side neighborhood worth investigating. Again, more heavily African-American but a place that many professional blacks have bought into in recent years. The South Loop is more diverse again, but it will be tough to find an apartment in your price range there unless you'd consider a studio.

Of course, there are lots of diverse North Side neighborhoods as well - Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, for example.

Still, if you're committed to the 'burbs, Forest Park or Skokie might be worth considering. I don't know much about Forest Park, but Skokie has the advantage of good access to downtown and an adjacency to Evanston.

[US-Traveller]

Originally Posted by chicagoboundgirl

Hello all, been reading forums on here for a few days and it seems to be a good place to get some good information. Im going to try to give a little background as well to get good good responses to this post.

So....I am a 37 yr old african american single female relocating to Chicago area from Atlanta GA area. I do not have a job yet but work in finance and plan to look for work in the city once im closer to a move date. I have searched Chicago suburbs online for the past few weeks and there are lots of choices but its hard to get a feel for an area until you actually visit. Harder choice is to know where to visit! I know nothing of the Chicago area except what ive heard from friends and online reading. Friends just say one thing...Stay away from the south side!

I lived in NY/NJ area prior to moving to Atlanta for a job and love NY (Manhattan) but it is enormously expensive to live there unless you are making damn near 6 figures! I know Chicago is not cheap but it is a far less financial headache then NY area. Atlanta suburb apt prices are very comparable to Chicago suburbs from what I can see online and hearsay. I chose Chicago because of the mass options of things to do, culture and centralize location in the country which would allow me to travel to the east coast and the west coast less expensively as I have family and friends on both sides of the country. I am a huge baseball fan (yes a black girl that loves baseball! LETS GO METS! and hello White Sox!), love arts and museums, theatre, good restaraunts and an active social life!

What im looking for is a 1 to 2 bedroom apt outside the city. My price range is approx. $700-$1000.00 per month. I have a car but would prefer somewhere close to the train line that will allow me to commute into the city as well. I figured no more than an hour train ride would be ok if the situation requires that but of course the closer the better! Since I lived in the NY/NJ area for 6 yrs prior to Atlanta, commuting is not a problem via public transportation for me.

It is very important for me to to live in a safe area that is very diverse, meaning a good mix of white, african american, hispanic etc.. people. I have found some areas that I thought I would find interesting but they seem to get a bad rap in the diversity issue. Such as Naperville to use an example. I looked into Evanston and Oak Park but think that those areas while diverse and close to the city may be too expensive for my budget.
I also have read some post on Forest Park but cant seem to get a feel for apt prices or area online about it.

Once I pick a few areas of interest I plan to take a few trips to see them up close of course so any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks for reading!

I wouldn't recommend moving to Chicago or anywhere without securing a job prior to relocation. The Chicago and Illinois job market is not good for any sector. The Chicago job market is also very competitive, even when there are plenty of jobs.

Your apartment rental budget is low. With your budget you are going to be in an older vintage building with no amenities and most likely no parking. Apartments below $1,000 are highly concentrated in areas like Wilmette and Winnetka on the northside. Those are both affluent family communities and the demand for apartments is low and therefore there are lower prices. Wilmette and Winnetka parking would be very difficult, you could pay as much in apartment rent for a parking spot. Wilmette and Winnetka are also along the Metra line which will get you to the loop in less than 30 minutes. Wilmette and Winnetka are over 90% white.

Chicago will seem much more segregated than Atlanta to you. Most of the suburbs of Chicago are over 80% white with only a handful of exceptions. Evanston, Skokie, and Oak Park would be notable exceptions to this rule.

I would recommend re-evaluating the costs of living here and the current job market.

[Mister Mappy]

Forest Park would probably be a good match for you. It is diverse, easily accessible to downtown via the Blue Line or Green Line trains, and is reasonably affordable. You should easily be able to find a decent apartment for under $1000.00 there. Also, the downtown area is pretty nice, and you are close to Oak Park, which has a lot of shopping, and other attractions.

[noid_1985]

I agree with most people here- Forest Park is your best bet

[chicagoboundgirl]

Thank you for the replies all! I too of course dont think its a good idea to move anywhere without a job lined up and never have, but as said before I just want to start taking a look at some areas to get a feel. Also depending on the income that ill be making the budget can definitely go up.

Job markets are tough everywhere and Atlanta which was once very thriving is seeing one of the worst job markets in years! I had a great, well paying job here in Atlanta and am confidant I can secure one in Chicago.

I chose to live in the suburbs because I like to play in the city and come home to quiet. I did it in NY and the same when I moved to Atlanta. The Atlanta suburbs are basically the same as Chicago it seems when it comes to being truly diversified though. Areas are either prodomintely white or prodomintely black. Very rarely since ive been here have I seen an equal mix anywhere. From what im seeing its the same there and thats ok too. I have lived in many cities actually and that seems to be the trend. Still the same I think I will love Chicago and am excited to make this move.

Thanks again for the replies!

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by chicagoboundgirl

Thank you for the replies all! I too of course dont think its a good idea to move anywhere without a job lined up and never have, but as said before I just want to start taking a look at some areas to get a feel. Also depending on the income that ill be making the budget can definitely go up.

Job markets are tough everywhere and Atlanta which was once very thriving is seeing one of the worst job markets in years! I had a great, well paying job here in Atlanta and am confidant I can secure one in Chicago.

I chose to live in the suburbs because I like to play in the city and come home to quiet. I did it in NY and the same when I moved to Atlanta. The Atlanta suburbs are basically the same as Chicago it seems when it comes to being truly diversified though. Areas are either prodomintely white or prodomintely black. Very rarely since ive been here have I seen an equal mix anywhere. From what im seeing its the same there and thats ok too. I have lived in many cities actually and that seems to be the trend. Still the same I think I will love Chicago and am excited to make this move.

Thanks again for the replies!

Hope all goes well for you- remember to visit us here at this wonderful website

[chicagoboundgirl]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

Hope all goes well for you- remember to visit us here at this wonderful website

Thank you I definitely will!

[chicagoboundgirl]

Ok been online all day (lol). Am thinking that I might need to go farther out to get what I want. So any thoughts on Aurora anyone? I looked up some demographic info and its about the exact same as where I live outside Atlanta and the commute wouldnt be too bad if I worked in the city or nearby Naperville. Seems to be much more in my budget which is a big plus as well!