Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We moved to Chicago 2 years ago and live downtown and LOVE it, but we have 1 young baby and another on the way and are considering moving out to the burbs...we really like Oak Park but it is too expensive and a bit too congested for us. We would like to get a fairly nice house (relatively newer construction is preferable) in a nice town with good schools (schools are very important) with at least some yard...Burr Ridge and maybe surrounding towns seem to fit that bill, but we would LOVE to get some input from anyone who knows those towns/is raising kids there. How are the schools, people (friendly, etc?) and how is the commute to the city? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Also any suggestions about Burr ridge vs. Hinsdale vs. any others around there.....many thanks in advance!
Personally, I think Hinsdale is overpriced, and I don't find anything attractive about Burr Ridge. You didn't mention your price range, but if Hinsdale and Burr Ridge are options for you, I'm going to assume it's at least $400k. You should definitely look at Western Springs (located just east of Hinsdale). I grew up there and after living in Chicago, Evanston, Arlington Heights, and Naperville, I chose to return to Western Springs to raise my kids. It's a very family-oriented community and people are friendlier here than any other place I've lived. The schools are excellent. My husband and I are teachers so education is the most important factor to us, and we have no complaints about this school system. Western Springs is a relatively small town (about 12,500 residents), and that helps with the family-oriented atmosphere. It's incredibly safe here - I feel completely comfortable walking around alone at night, and I don't have a high comfort level for that because of some things that happened to me when I lived in Chicago and Evanston. Also, Western Springs isn't simply urban sprawl and cookie-cutter houses like so many suburbs - I hate that. There are some really gorgeous old homes here, some really impressive newer ones, and so much in between. Like Oak Park, Western Springs is very walking-friendly. My daughters walk to school, and we walk to the quaint little downtown area, which has a Metra station (the trip to Chicago is about 40 minutes - many residents commute that way). The neighboring town, La Grange (also a great place to live), has a bigger downtown area with more to do, but there are enough stores and restaurants in Western Springs that I don't have to go to La Grange all the time. The downside is that housing gets pretty expensive here. However, housing is less expensive in La Grange Park and in the unincorporated areas just south of Western Springs (La Grange Highlands and Indian Head Park), but those places are less walkable and don't have as much character as Western Springs and La Grange. Countryside and Hodgkins are also nearby and less expensive, but those towns have more crime, so I would avoid them. If Western Springs and La Grange are in your price range, check them out, because I love living here and there's nowhere else I'd rather raise my kids.
Western springs, lagrange, oak brook, hinsdale, clarendon hills, elmhurst are all very expensive. Depends on how much you want to spend? I think brookfield is OK. Is riverside very expensive? I have driven through it and it seems very nice.
Also check out Lombard for the west suburban areas. Many families priced out of the other burbs are looking here.
If you think Oakpark is too expensive,pass by Hinsdale and Burr Ridge,though Hinsdale is very nice.I would check out Elmhurst,Lombard and Glen Ellyn,Wheaton,or maybe Naperville,though that is the busiest/congested of these burbs.You dont mention your price range,but you should take a drive out soon and visit the towns.They all have good schools,nice parks,and vibrants downtowns with easy metra commutes.Is Evanston too congested for you? Thats another option since you mention you love the city,,not much new housing though
Personally, I think Hinsdale is overpriced, and I don't find anything attractive about Burr Ridge. You didn't mention your price range, but if Hinsdale and Burr Ridge are options for you, I'm going to assume it's at least $400k. You should definitely look at Western Springs (located just east of Hinsdale). I grew up there and after living in Chicago, Evanston, Arlington Heights, and Naperville, I chose to return to Western Springs to raise my kids. It's a very family-oriented community and people are friendlier here than any other place I've lived. The schools are excellent. My husband and I are teachers so education is the most important factor to us, and we have no complaints about this school system. Western Springs is a relatively small town (about 12,500 residents), and that helps with the family-oriented atmosphere. It's incredibly safe here - I feel completely comfortable walking around alone at night, and I don't have a high comfort level for that because of some things that happened to me when I lived in Chicago and Evanston. Also, Western Springs isn't simply urban sprawl and cookie-cutter houses like so many suburbs - I hate that. There are some really gorgeous old homes here, some really impressive newer ones, and so much in between. Like Oak Park, Western Springs is very walking-friendly. My daughters walk to school, and we walk to the quaint little downtown area, which has a Metra station (the trip to Chicago is about 40 minutes - many residents commute that way). The neighboring town, La Grange (also a great place to live), has a bigger downtown area with more to do, but there are enough stores and restaurants in Western Springs that I don't have to go to La Grange all the time. The downside is that housing gets pretty expensive here. However, housing is less expensive in La Grange Park and in the unincorporated areas just south of Western Springs (La Grange Highlands and Indian Head Park), but those places are less walkable and don't have as much character as Western Springs and La Grange. Countryside and Hodgkins are also nearby and less expensive, but those towns have more crime, so I would avoid them. If Western Springs and La Grange are in your price range, check them out, because I love living here and there's nowhere else I'd rather raise my kids.
I moved to Hinsdale from Western Springs. Several factors were involved in that decision. One is the provincialness of WS people, most of who were solidly Catholic and devoted to the parochial school in the area, at least in the southern part of town. If you were not Catholic, forget it. Hinsdale is much more diverse, both racially and in outlook, having alot of transferees from other areas. WS people are mostly Chicago born and bred. Second, the schools in Hinsdale are much nicer, and have much higher scores in both the elementary and high school level, than WS schools. All Hinsdale schools have been renovated within the last 2 years, and WS schools are small and show their age. There is a noticable difference between the two. As far as safety, we sold our house after being robbed in "safe" WS. Our back door was kicked in, and we were cleaned out, in broad daylight. There are so many things better in Hinsdale than WS; the library, the downtown, the express train to downtown vs. the stops from WS needed to get there, the community house, the Historical society, the terrain, the schools, yada yada. If Hinsdale is overpriced, there is a reason for it, and if there is a big difference in home values between WS and Hinsdale, then there might be a reason for that too.
I moved to Hinsdale from Western Springs. Several factors were involved in that decision. One is the provincialness of WS people, most of who were solidly Catholic and devoted to the parochial school in the area, at least in the southern part of town. If you were not Catholic, forget it. Hinsdale is much more diverse, both racially and in outlook, having alot of transferees from other areas. WS people are mostly Chicago born and bred. Second, the schools in Hinsdale are much nicer, and have much higher scores in both the elementary and high school level, than WS schools. All Hinsdale schools have been renovated within the last 2 years, and WS schools are small and show their age. There is a noticable difference between the two. As far as safety, we sold our house after being robbed in "safe" WS. Our back door was kicked in, and we were cleaned out, in broad daylight. There are so many things better in Hinsdale than WS; the library, the downtown, the express train to downtown vs. the stops from WS needed to get there, the community house, the Historical society, the terrain, the schools, yada yada. If Hinsdale is overpriced, there is a reason for it, and if there is a big difference in home values between WS and Hinsdale, then there might be a reason for that too.
There is a large Catholic presence in Western Springs, but I'm agnostic and I don't have a problem living here. Obviously if you live close to the large Catholic school there's going to be a lot of Catholics living there. I live in the northern part. I would not say Hinsdale is much more racially diverse: 91.6% white vs 97%. As for the schools, you mentioned that you lived in the southern part of town - are you talking about the Highlands school district? Your statements are correct if you're referring to district 106, but the scores of the schools in Western Springs district 101 are at or above those of the schools in Hinsdale. The highest-scoring elementary school in district 101 has a PSAE average of 98.1% meeting/exceeding state standards, while the highest-scoring elementary school in district 181 has an average of 97.9%. The middle school in district 101 has an average of 96.2%, and the highest-scoring middle school in district 181 has an average of 96.1%. Hinsdale Central has higher scores than Lyons Township, but Lyons Township is more economically diverse.
I'm sorry you were a victim, but the crime statistics show that Western Springs is one of the safest Chicago suburbs, and the crime rate is declining. I moved out of Chicago when I was mugged living in "safe" Lakeview - I understand how that feels.
Hinsdale's downtown is better, I won't debate that, but Hinsdale is also a larger town. Not all trains that stop in Western Springs make every stop. There are several trains that don't make stops between La Grange and Chicago, and three or four of those stops are skipped by most trains. The express train from Hinsdale (of which there are only 6 total - 3 in each direction) takes 20 mins, whereas the average train from Western Springs takes 35. You're making a point out of 15 mins? It's the Metra! You can read a book, drink a beer - basically just relax, and I'd rather have 15 extra minutes to do so.
There is a large Catholic presence in Western Springs, but I'm agnostic and I don't have a problem living here. Obviously if you live close to the large Catholic school there's going to be a lot of Catholics living there. I live in the northern part. I would not say Hinsdale is much more racially diverse: 91.6% white vs 97%. As for the schools, you mentioned that you lived in the southern part of town - are you talking about the Highlands school district? Your statements are correct if you're referring to district 106, but the scores of the schools in Western Springs district 101 are at or above those of the schools in Hinsdale. The highest-scoring elementary school in district 101 has a PSAE average of 98.1% meeting/exceeding state standards, while the highest-scoring elementary school in district 181 has an average of 97.9%. The middle school in district 101 has an average of 96.2%, and the highest-scoring middle school in district 181 has an average of 96.1%. Hinsdale Central has higher scores than Lyons Township, but Lyons Township is more economically diverse.
I'm sorry you were a victim, but the crime statistics show that Western Springs is one of the safest Chicago suburbs, and the crime rate is declining. I moved out of Chicago when I was mugged living in "safe" Lakeview - I understand how that feels.
Hinsdale's downtown is better, I won't debate that, but Hinsdale is also a larger town. Not all trains that stop in Western Springs make every stop. There are several trains that don't make stops between La Grange and Chicago, and three or four of those stops are skipped by most trains. The express train from Hinsdale (of which there are only 6 total - 3 in each direction) takes 20 mins, whereas the average train from Western Springs takes 35. You're making a point out of 15 mins? It's the Metra! You can read a book, drink a beer - basically just relax, and I'd rather have 15 extra minutes to do so.
Although I don't want to take up all the space here, I'll address the schools. Although scores fluctuate along with the students and teachers, the Sun Times has consistently placed all 5 District 181 in the top 25 in the state, something that was not achieved in WS. Also, I moved from Forest Hills in District WS 101, not Highlands. If you look at the physical state of the FH building vs. my children's new school, the contrast is amazing. My kid's school now has a living garden, huge computer lab, new gym, beatiful classrooms, and is just plain nice, new and renovated..But as you indicated, the schools in WS are fine as well, and I don't mean to put them down. As far as diversity, not every kid now is a Shannon, Timothy, Sean, O'Reilly etc., but they now go to school with Iranians, Ukranians, Lithianians, Swedes, Jews, Chinese of all different faiths and beliefs as well as Irish, a mix which is refreshing, although I think that the Irish still have a better sense of humor. I answered this to give a different perspective other than yours to this person who in fact asked about Hinsdale and Burr Ridge, not WS. Another nice thing about Hinsdale is that I have found that people there don't tell others, or even feel, that it is the only place to live, but in WS for some reason if you ask anyone there it is the only place to live, part of the provincialism I spoke about earlier. Either way, unless the poster here has enough to spend for either town, (as you pointed out WS is not cheap) this posting is pretty much worthless to them.
Either way, unless the poster here has enough to spend for either town, (as you pointed out WS is not cheap) this posting is pretty much worthless to them.
There's nothing wrong with showing people that they have other options. The title of this thread is "burr ridge, hinsdale and surrounding suburbs." Even if my words don't help the original poster, they may help someone else who is looking in this area.
As someone who has lived in both Hinsdale and WS, I've enjoyed the debate. Still, if the poster likes Oak Park, I think they would probably like LaGrange better than either WS or Hinsdale. Personally, I don't see how you go from looking at Oak Park to looking at Burr Ridge. No downtown, no order to the streets...just like Oak Brook. If you like some sense of urbanization (like Oak Park) but want a more suburban experience with larger lots, I think La Grange is the place to go. Seems like everyone I know (except me) who is in their 30s with kids is moving there.
As someone who has lived in both Hinsdale and WS, I've enjoyed the debate. Still, if the poster likes Oak Park, I think they would probably like LaGrange better than either WS or Hinsdale. Personally, I don't see how you go from looking at Oak Park to looking at Burr Ridge. No downtown, no order to the streets...just like Oak Brook. If you like some sense of urbanization (like Oak Park) but want a more suburban experience with larger lots, I think La Grange is the place to go. Seems like everyone I know (except me) who is in their 30s with kids is moving there.
I would agree.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Different opinon
