Ranking Northern and Western burbs when schools aren't a factor (Chicago: sales, apartments)

[Badger96]

How would you rank the Northern and Western Suburbs if schools weren't a factor. What would be your top lists look like if you ranked on 1. Natural Beauty, 2. Walkability (metra, downtown, library), 3. Amenities (good shopping, butcher, baker, Library, etc), or 4. Things to do (restaurants, festivals, bike paths, parks)?

[Lookout Kid]

Honestly, they'd probably rank about the same as when schools ARE a factor. Nearly all of the nice northern and western suburbs have good schools. One exception might be Evanston, where some of the elementary schools are GREAT and some are just so-so. I guess I'd be more likely to consider southeastern Evanston, which is absolutely beautiful and has great beach access, if schools weren't a factor.

Oak Park is another place that fits your criteria, though I argue that the schools there are actually quite good. They have major issues with the "achievement gap" though, so that might be an issue if you are black or Hispanic. Evanston also has this issue.

[TempesT68]

I agree really any nice area is going to have a good school district as well. From what it sounds like you mentioned i think geneva or st. charles would fit the bill.

[chet everett]

Still haven't narrowed in on shopping a town Badger? I thought you'd be under contract by now...

Anyhow I agree that the there is a very large "chicken & egg" association with the desirable towns and their schools -- the nice amenities, good location, pleasant physical surrounding are part and parcel of high performing schools. I think that the Chicago region is more than a little unique in that regard, no doubt due to property tax structures, historic patterns of development, zoning / planning, local sales taxes systems and a dozen other factors that have been "baked in" for decades...

In general the factors you list are largely desired by MOST if not all home buyers these days -- and probably going back to at least WWII! I mean sure there are folks that really really want a new house in a new subdivision and are willing to settle for some billiard-table flat former farmland with finger sized trees for landscaping to stay in budget, but when those say folks drive through an area with some natural curves ,hills and a trees so big around two kids can hide on either side they know what their "savings" came from. Similarly the folks that live in a town where they can pick-up some steaks to grill up on their way home from the train can't flinch too much when that whim costs them about 3x more than buying a mega pac on the weekend at Costco. I will caution you that you've probably been spoiled by Atlanta's mostly pleasant climate if your "things to do"are biased to the outdoors -- even being walking distance to Ravina is not going to make sitting out in a cold wet spring a magic experience (to say nothing of how the traffic and possible proximity to what can be loud effects those that are walking distance from that facility...).

I really think you'd be hard pressed to find any town in the region that does not offer a pretty BALANCED set of positives -- good schools TEND VERY STRONGLY to go with pretty streets, nice commute, pleasant local activities. The SIZE of the own dictates to a large extent how VARIED the offerings will be, with my personal preference to go with the SMALLER town as the variance in positive ways tends to be less a detriment -- in a really large town (like say Evanston) the stuff on the negative end of the scale for the folks that live in the more crowded and crime ridden blocks is many times worse than in a smaller town. When you get a ridiculously small town (like say Kenilworth) there is literally nothing but stuff that might as well be from a fairly tale, though the prices are equally hard to get one's head around.

Along the BNSF there is a similar kind of dynamic -- Aurora is so big and so varied that those in the sections adjacent to Naperville tend to be unable to relate to the worst stuff on the traditional "east side". Towns like Downers Grove are bigger and more varied than Western Springs, Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills, Riverside and in each those the smaller town TENDS to have less worrisome negatives. Same can be said for towns along the UP West line, Oak Park is far and away the biggest, next would probably be Elmhurts, then Geneva, Wheaton, and Glen Ellyn. As one gets to the smaller town you do "trade off" some of the positives (like all Elmhurst's cultural offerings, Oak Park's more urban vibe, Geneva's resturantants and night spots, but you gain a consistency and somewhat more intimate "locals focused" downtown in Glen Ellyn...




As you probably have already found there are lots of "trade-offs" that go with even the most desirable of areas. In general sense, you really "can't have it all" in any Chicago suburb or the City itself. If you have a huge desire to be able to head to Lake Michigan on foot that is going to rule out the western 'burbs. If that desire also comes with budget constraints you will almost certainly find that the both size and shear availability can be hugely discouraging negatives.

If you do look seriously at any of the desirable towns and have your heart set on new / newer construction with a certain "open plan" and a yard big enough to play in the price can climb precipitously.

[166181]

Glenview.. It has 2 Metra stations, and an Amtrak station, EXCELLENT schools, with much higher spending per student, and amenities (not to mention ACT scores), than Evanston. Low-crime town. It has the Glen, which is wonderful for recreation, and the Park Center. The Glen, look at some pictures, is a huge shopping complex, with apartments on top of the shops. It was as if someone took a spot from the commercial district of New York, cleaned it up, and dropped it right in the middle of the suburbs. Diversity, and lot of people from Asian decent of some sort (India, China, etc.) It is an affluent community, and perfect for children, and encourages independence.

[cubssoxfan]

^^*&#%&! This thread is OVER 2 1/2 YEARS OLD! What's the point

[Sunduri]

The late response is still helpful for the rest of us who are thinking about relocating to the area and would like more info on different towns. :-)

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Sunduri

The late response is still helpful for the rest of us who are thinking about relocating to the area and would like more info on different towns. :-)

Are you defending the poster who dug up a 2 1/2 year old thread just to cheerlead? Or are you saying the revivial of the thread is helpful to you because you are seeking similar information?

If it is the first point; sorry, it's just bad etiquette and ticks off many long time posters like myself.
If it is the last point, then search the forum to see if the info is out there. IF it is, then revive the old thread but add specific details that will help us provide answers or opinions specific to your situation. If you do not find an old thread or it is not related to your informational needs, start a new thread.