Moves to Chicago need help how to start... (Evanston, Oak Park: apartment, rent) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

Zarigotay · 03-07-2011, 01:20 PM

Hi we are moving to Chicago this summer as my husband have a good employee offer there. We have two girls one will be in Middle High School We are looking for some schools we like Young High School is a racking 10 and is close to his work office but Im no sure how to looking for a good neighborhood. Can we really need a car from day one? House or apartment ? We never deal with a really cold weather and even snow. Any suggestions, comments and info will be really appreciated.

It will be our first time in US, so we have a lot of this to learn and know.

Thanks in advance.

chirack · 03-07-2011, 02:27 PM

Ok the burbs are usually where people with children go. Young is a good school but it has selective enrolment.

If you live in the burbs you will probably need a car. Also where is his place of employment?

Drover · 03-07-2011, 10:27 PM

Whitney Young is one of a handful of excellent high schools in the CPS system. And like each of those excellent high schools, it has a selective enrollment process that ensures each of your girls probably have a better chance of meeting space aliens in their lifetime than getting accepted. Save yourself some grief and look into one of the better suburban districts.

tonythetuna · 03-07-2011, 10:33 PM

Can you afford a private school?

Zarigotay · 03-08-2011, 07:20 AM

He will be working in Michigan Avenue really close to Grant Park. We preferred to live close to the office but Im not sure about the Neighborhoods. Any suburns suggestions?

chicagojlo · 03-08-2011, 12:11 PM

I'm guessing you are coming from Europe. Chicago (like most American cities) is different to a typical European city. Once you have school aged children it is very difficult to get a good education in the city so most people move out to the suburbs. Most suburbs are at least 45 minutes commute by train (longer by car), and you often have to drive to the train station too since public transportation outside of the city is almost non-existent. If you don't work you will also need to drive everywhere, it's not possible in most suburbs to just walk to the store or the library or the park. There are a couple of suburbs where this is possible but the towns are not on the scale you are used to.

The best way to proceed is to work out how much you can afford to spend on rent, and then find a town you like that is within your budget and has good commuting options.

Your husband shoul ask his prospective employer to get you a relocation adviser for these things.

Drover · 03-08-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarigotay

He will be working in Michigan Avenue really close to Grant Park. We preferred to live close to the office but Im not sure about the Neighborhoods. Any suburns suggestions?

What is your price range?

There are two popular options for good school districts and a relatively painless commute to downtown by train: the suburbs that feed into OPRF High School district (Oak Park and River Forest), and those that feed into New Trier Township High School (Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield). Note however that both of these options can be quite expensive, with average home prices in some of these suburbs approaching a million dollars. You may wish to explore other options depending on your budget. Or, you may want to consider a less expensive part of the city and use the difference to pay for private schools.

Zarigotay · 03-08-2011, 01:14 PM

we are coming from PR. here you need to pay for a private school since the public education is really bad and if you wants a security for youre kids you have to pay for a private school. But everybody tells us that in Chicago are really really good Public Schools so that why we are considering this. I saw schools as Lincoln Elementary and South Loop and other as Jackson Elementary. We prefer to pay more for a rent ( we do not plans to buy a property in the first year) and be more closer to the city, schools and work.

Tabak · 03-08-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarigotay

Hi we are moving to Chicago this summer as my husband have a good employee offer there. We have two girls one will be in Middle High School We are looking for some schools we like Young High School is a racking 10 and is close to his work office but Im no sure how to looking for a good neighborhood. Can we really need a car from day one? House or apartment ? We never deal with a really cold weather and even snow. Any suggestions, comments and info will be really appreciated.

It will be our first time in US, so we have a lot of this to learn and know.

Thanks in advance.

In the city you do not need a car. It is more of a liability than something desired. The suburbs can be lived in without a car but it is harder there unless the suburbs are Evanston, Wilmette or Oak Park. Young High School is pretty good but admission is by selection. Walter Payton High is good and might be easier to get your daughter into. For the most part the good neighborhoods are by the lake. The rest of the city proper is generally dangerous except for the small area called Jefferson Park which is out by the airport. That is because a large number of cops live there.

jdiddy · 03-08-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tabak

In the city you do not need a car. It is more of a liability than something desired. The suburbs can be lived in without a car but it is harder there unless the suburbs are Evanston, Wilmette or Oak Park. Young High School is pretty good but admission is by selection. Walter Payton High is good and might be easier to get your daughter into. For the most part the good neighborhoods are by the lake. The rest of the city proper is generally dangerous except for the small area called Jefferson Park which is out by the airport. That is because a large number of cops live there.

You have no idea what you are talking about.