west chicaco suburb for young couple w/o kids (Chicago: apartment, rentals)

[Csanad]

hi, i posted this in an old thread, but did not get responses, so i thought i'd try my luck with a brand new thread

i am a Hungarian, and i was offered a job at my company HQs in warrenville, they want me to relocate to chicago area for min 2 years. i am taking my wife with me

which sub is the best to start searching for accomodation. place i am looking for
- preferably has nice downtown area (like Naperville),
- an OK selection of restaurants and sport bars,
- park, green area
- well equipped fittness centre,
- should be an OK distance from warrenville.
- no children yet, so school is not a concern
- some access to train to chicago

thanks a lot

[TempesT68]

Are you looking to buy or rent? What kind of budget are you working with?

[Csanad]

Originally Posted by TempesT68

Are you looking to buy or rent? What kind of budget are you working with?

oh, yes - thanks for bringing that up, its an important point.

going to rent, but the company is going to pay, i have not seen the exact financial side of the offer, but i would guess we are looking at mid-to-upper class rentals

[TempesT68]

Given your situation and what you're looking for i think naperville would be the choice.

[chet everett]

If job is in Warrenville the easy choice is Naperville. Next on list would be (in decreasing order, mostly based on distance and then desirability for you situation):

-Wheaton: closer to Warrenville, not as vibrant as Naperville
-Glen Ellyn: a bit further but still easy commute, smaller so a little less options
-Downers Grove: similar to Glen Ellyn, not quite as pricey, maybe a bit less conservative
-Elmhurst: more options, but commute starts to stretch
-Lombard: might be closer that Elhurst, less well developed

Longer commute to Oak Park would make sense only if spouse needs / wants to get into Chicago daily for school or work

[Csanad]

thanks for the responses so far.

would St Charles, Geneva, Batavia rival Naperville?

or is Naperville without par in that area? ( i liked Naperville downtown very much i am just curious about the alternatives)

[TempesT68]

St charles and geneva also have nice downtowns, but i wouldn't say they are better than naperville. Also of the three listed only geneva has train service.

[chet everett]

Geneva and St. Charles do have a few nightspots and shops that are very very nice (and I have friends that own businesses in one town or the other...) but a HUGE step down in terms of scale and variety compared to Naperville.

Batavia is a bit more basic, and while visually charming and a really good value for home buyers, offers significantly less to do. Even friends that are HUGE supporters would admit that the restaurant "scene" is much better in other towns.

Now if your employer is actually going to give you an allowance for housing, or just adjust your salary so it is your own money you are spending the discount for Batavia may allow you to rent a townhouse with attached garage instead of a condo with open parking and those kind of trade offs MIGHT be very sensible if you have a nice car and hate snow...

Originally Posted by Csanad

thanks for the responses so far.

would St Charles, Geneva, Batavia rival Naperville?

or is Naperville without par in that area? ( i liked Naperville downtown very much i am just curious about the alternatives)

[Csanad]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Now if your employer is actually going to give you an allowance for housing, or just adjust your salary so it is your own money you are spending the discount for Batavia may allow you to rent a townhouse with attached garage instead of a condo with open parking and those kind of trade offs MIGHT be very sensible if you have a nice car and hate snow...

well its not a big concern, i keep the car on the street currently as well, since i only have an apartment in Budapest (i just hope the car i receive will have seat heating )

what about sports facilities? fitness centre, squash, bowling, swimming pool, areas for cycling (if the weather permits)? which burb is best equipped from this regard?

also, i was wondering - these communities are quite close to each other (as i see on the map and as i remember from my visits to warrenville). do peolpe drive around for dining, beer etc, or each suburb sticks to their own bars/restaurants? i just cant imagine living next to naperville (say Wheaton) and not hop over to naperville downtown for an evening stroll...

[linicx]

Moved to Chicago Suburbs Forum