Help! we might be moving to work in Lisle (Chicago: employment, neighbourhood)

[SusanGells]

Hi

we live in Europe at the moment and have never lived in the US (australian)...we are likely to move to Lisle for work...and need help where to live.

The office is in Lisle so the suburb needs to be a 30-35 min drive or train away Max.

We are both 35 and like a neighbourhood with shops, cafes, some nice restaurants that we can walk around in safely (baby arrives in March 2011).

Any suggestions? we would prefer to be closer to Chicago main city rather than the other side...

any help?

[chet everett]

Chicago is nestled up againt Lake Michigan, essentially a small fresh water 'sea'. The lake front includes miles of beaches and parks.

Directly inland from that lake front is the area known as the "the Loop" (for the ring of ELevated light rail / transit that encircles it) is the core of the professional employment base.

Multitudes of residents of the region commute to the Loop on diesel-electric trains run by Metra that take them to / from a variety of rather mature, amenity laden suburbs. The quality of life, schools, housing are all quite amenable to families such as yourself. Towns such as Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills, Geneva, Hinsdale all have the shops, resturants, stoller / pram friendly walk ways you seem to be looking for. Lisle itself is a bit underdeveloped in this regard, and does have a higher concentration of large office parks with acres of parking than some towns, but it too is worth considering from a convenience stand point. Any of the towns I have listed would be within a 30 minute drive of a Lisle based office and also afford the convenience of a Metra train ride into the Loop of about the same time.

I am sure some folks will recommend other towns too, but in fairness to your request to keep travel times to office under 35 minutes I do not believe any others would work.

[jamaicabound60565]

Originally Posted by SusanGells

Hi

we live in Europe at the moment and have never lived in the US (australian)...we are likely to move to Lisle for work...and need help where to live.

The office is in Lisle so the suburb needs to be a 30-35 min drive or train away Max.

We are both 35 and like a neighbourhood with shops, cafes, some nice restaurants that we can walk around in safely (baby arrives in March 2011).

Any suggestions? we would prefer to be closer to Chicago main city rather than the other side...

any help?

Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking it I like the west burbs but I imagine comming from Europe with small independantly owned cafes and stuff it may be somewhat disapointing to go to downtown lisle, naperville, elmhurst, etc where its chains like einstein bagels, starbucks, etc.

Just off the top of my head look into Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lisle, Downers Grove, Naperville. All are safe, have good schools, decent downtown areas metra trains, etc.

[JustJulia]

I think Downers Grove is a good choice. I love Naperville, but it's further from Chicago. (Naperville is west of Lisle, and Downers Grove is east, closer to Chicago.)

[SusanGells]

Thanks all, very helpful!