Safe/affordable locations (Chicago, Berwyn, Oak Park: 2013, apartment, rental)

[mesialdrift2013]

Hello,

I'm planning on relocating to Chicago at the beginning of June. and need advice on where to live. I will be working at UIC medical center and must live somewhere close by (driving non traffic probably 15-20 minutes). The issue is my wife and I have 2 kids, one will start elementary school. I can probably only afford $1300-1400/mnth rent. What are some safe neighborhoods in good school zones that will fit the above requirements? Thank you so much in advance for the suggestions.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by mesialdrift2013

Hello,

I'm planning on relocating to Chicago at the beginning of June. and need advice on where to live. I will be working at UIC medical center and must live somewhere close by (driving non traffic probably 15-20 minutes). The issue is my wife and I have 2 kids, one will start elementary school. I can probably only afford $1300-1400/mnth rent. What are some safe neighborhoods in good school zones that will fit the above requirements? Thank you so much in advance for the suggestions.

There are some (a few) good neighborhood CPS (Chicago Public Schools), mostly on the North side of town, but I doubt those will be within a 20 minute drive of UIC Medical. The nearest suburb with good public schools is Oak Park, directly to the west of Chicago. Its probably conceivable to get from Oak Park to UIC Medical Center in 20 minutes if you live close to the Austin Ave on-ramp to I-290. In your price range you're probably looking at a 2 bedroom apartment although you might luck out and find a small 3 bedroom.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

There are some (a few) good neighborhood CPS (Chicago Public Schools), mostly on the North side of town, but I doubt those will be within a 20 minute drive of UIC Medical.

In no traffic, you could and it would be close. Even in little traffic, you could get from Irving Park down to UIC Med in around 20 minutes. Believe it or not, it's only a few miles longer than the drive from Oak Park. But if you don't live need the freeway, it would be really close and I'd end up agreeing with you for many other areas.

I agree about Oak Park, and maybe Forest Park too? Good thing about Oak Park and Forest Park is that there is a CTA Blue Line train that runs to those places. I am not an expert of rental prices in those two cities (check with suburbs forum too), but I think they're more expensive than your average suburb.

[mesialdrift2013]

Thank you for the suggestions. I've heard that Austin is dangerous to live by, I'm not sure if it's only the street or west/east of that street. My wife told me that forest park looks unsafe, is there an area of it that is safe or did we hear wrong?

[chet everett]

Sadly the ability to find a safe place inside Chicago with easy access to good schools is all but impossible within 20 minutes of UIC. If you monthly housing cost ceiling is limited to $1400/mo I would probably consider other towns where your money will go farther even if that a slightly longer commute. On your budget it might be possible to find a family sized rental in Berwyn or Brookfield that still ought to be only little longer than 20 minutes: Ogden Ave & 1st Ave, Lyons, IL 60534 to Uic Medical Center - Google Maps

[rrah]

Austin is the name of a street and the name of a neighborhood. Oak Park is located west of Austin Blvd. Austin, the neighborhood, is located east of it.

This link might interest you.

High-crime neighbor has little impact on life in Oak Park