Best Suburb for new grad (Chicago, Arlington Heights: apartments, condos, neighborhood)

[madisonbb]

Hey all I've been doing some research about where someone just out of college should live in the suburbs. I would love to live downtown but i'm moving in with my fiance who works in rolling meadows and i'll be working downtown so we need somewhere right in between.
We're looking for a suburb with a downtown area and some condos/apartments to live in and be able to walk everywhere (starbucks, movies, bars, restaurants) maybe an area that has parks. We've looked into Arlington Heights, but it's still a little far from downtown for my commute. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[oakparkdude]

Don't know the NW suburbs at all. I do know the west suburbs, however. Elmhurst might be a good compromise. Probably 30 minutes by car to RM, and 30 minutes by Metra to the Loop. Downtown Elmhurst is fairly lively for a suburb.

[Avengerfire]

Park Ridge

or Edison Park (a neighborhood in the city)

[bulldawg1594]

park ridge

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by madisonbb

We've looked into Arlington Heights, but it's still a little far from downtown for my commute. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Express runs do the trip in 31 minutes. You cannot get downtown from most places, in the city, in less time.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

Express runs do the trip in 31 minutes. You cannot get downtown from most places, in the city, in less time.

I honestly agree. Studies done about commuting times consistently show that a trip from a moderately close suburb via Metra is no longer and far more reliable /predictable than the intra-city commute involving multiple modes of transit and or walking.

Now I would not argue that they are almost certainly a broader array of entertainment and lifestyle options in many part of Chicago than in most suburbs, but in terms of commutes of under 30 minutes being a negative for a suburb that just is not going to be better even in Chicago...

[chitown85]

Arlington Heights is a good option, problem being for downtown AH, it's a pain to get to 90 to go downtown. Once you get past O'Hare toward downtown its a nightmare so you want to limit your commute between NW burbs and O'Hare.

Elmhurst isn't a bad suggestion since it's relatively easy to get downtown, but it's not as close to Rolling Meadows.

Look at NW burbs that don't necessarily have good downtowns like Franklin Park or Schiller Park. It is relatively easy to get to Rolling Meadows and downtown is quick since its past O Hare.

[edsg25]

Evanston

[chitown85]

Evanston to Rolling Meadows is a trek. Easily an hour each way- no traffic.