Deciding where to live in West Suburbs

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by sc875

Glenn Ellyn-what are the characteristics of the city? What about Lombard.?There are some nice condos on main street, but the downtown seems more sedate and sleepy than Wheaton or Naperville. And the commute is about 20 minutes to my office.

I like the idea of Oak Park-historic homes and close to the city. I imagine it to be a hip and vibrant town. Is it considered a desirable and safe place to live, for a single woman? The commute though, will be about 35-40 minutes from my office, in the reverse direction of traffic.

Thank you. Finding a home in an entirely new area is daunting. I appreciate the input.

My situation was somewhat like yours. I lived for several years in Davis Square, Somerville, prior to moving to Chicago for a job in Geneva, IL. My wife and I looked at housing in Geneva and Naperville before settling in Oak Park. We found the housing and vibe somewhat similar to what we were used to, while the commute to Geneva was (barely) tolerable from Oak Park.

I know a fair number of singles who live in OP (work in the western burbs) and spend a fair bit of time in Chicago. If you choose to live here, be prepared to spend a lot of your time stuck in traffic. The worst part of the commute will be the return in the afternoon which is always worse than the morning outbound. It can take an hour (or occasionally more) to get from Naperville to OP, and the majority of the backup is on I-290 (between Hillside and Oak Park.)

I take the train most days and have near complete control over my work schedule, so the long commute doesn't bother me. I found the amenities of OP worth the trade-off. Obviously you'll have to decide for yourself whether it makes sense for you.

[trickygal]

Cambridge, Mass.....it is like no place on earth!!! People from all around the world speaking different languages... great (uncommercialized) coffee shops and Burdick's chocolates to mention a few. I lived there and I miss it too!

Ok, so the commute from Oak Park to Naperville would be a NIGHTMARE. Check out www.traffic.com to calculate the trip at the time you would be commuting. Everyone has different levels of tolerance this would at least give you an idea.

If you are looking for "charm" I would have to agree with other posters when they mention Wheaton and Glen Ellyn. My husband and I have been "interviewing" :-) suburbs have been very impressed with both....even the restaurants....Ivy in Wheaton...YUM! No they aren't as close to the city as Oak Park, but your commute will be SIGNIFICANTLY easier everyday!

Wishing you all the best....welcome to the Midwest!