Suburbs around the O'Hare area? (Chicago, Joliet: rentals, condos, crimes)

[AwayFromLife]

So I recently started working for a company that's based in Chicago, and is a contractor that works with O'Hare airport. I live in the south suburbs, Joliet area, and am looking to move closer to cut down on my commute, which is quite long.

I'm really looking for anything within about a half-hour from the airport in any direction, but don't really know what are good/bad or cheap/expensive areas. I don't really need to live anywhere "upscale" or "trendy", just somewhere with the essentials that I feel comfortable walking around and don't worry about any type of major crimes.

[ToriaT]

If I had to pick to live around O Hare I would live in Park Ridge. If that was not an option I would look in Chicago on the far northwest side so you have easy access to both the city and O Hare. There are other options like going west or NW too such as Wood Dale, Des Plaines. Norridge and Harwood Heights are also options.

[cubssoxfan]

Add Elk Grove, Itasca, Elmhurst, Mt. Prospect and Arlington Heights to the list.

[chet everett]

If you are single or just a couple of adults I would put Rosemeont, DesPlaines and Besenville high on a list for ease of commute to O'Hare. Even if you do have kids those towns could work but you need to plan a little bit more as some parts of those towns have some better / worse choices as far as school attendance boundaries and such..

[divakat]

Park ridge if your budget is at least 400k or 2000 per month to rent. If not, Arlington Heights would be the next best then Palatine. Edison Park is also cute and is less pricey.

[AwayFromLife]

Heh, I think 2000 a month is a bit out of my price range, but I'll look into it. Thanks for the replies.

[ToriaT]

I would skip Bensenville and look at wooddale. there are some nice rentals in the 190 s. wooddale road condos and they go for around 1400.

[jlawrence01]

Arlington Heights, Palatine, and Mt Prospect would be your best bets. And Park Ridge and Edison Park would also be good choices,

[Aerio]

Originally Posted by AwayFromLife

So I recently started working for a company that's based in Chicago, and is a contractor that works with O'Hare airport. I live in the south suburbs, Joliet area, and am looking to move closer to cut down on my commute, which is quite long.

I'm really looking for anything within about a half-hour from the airport in any direction, but don't really know what are good/bad or cheap/expensive areas. I don't really need to live anywhere "upscale" or "trendy", just somewhere with the essentials that I feel comfortable walking around and don't worry about any type of major crimes.

I grew up in Elk Grove, so if you're curious I can tell you more in private messages. Otherwise, it's a fairly safe and decent small community. I can't tell you about housing prices since I am not knowledgeable in that arena, but it has the "essentials", though you would do most of your commercial shopping (as opposed to food) in neighboring Schaumburg like everyone else. You can walk without being hassled in most, if not all of Elk Grove I feel. Depending on where you live, you would take Devon, Higgins, or Irving Park to get to your job, which are the bigger thoroughfares that lead from EG to O'Hare. They can be quite congested during rush hours, though from my experience, it usually took about 20-30 minutes between 6 to 7 am. I wish you the best in your search.

[purplesky]

Norridge would fit. Take the blue line to O'Hare, bus on Harlem. Safe, much cheaper than Park Ridge, Harlem Irving Plaza (mall). Not exciting or trendy, but houses are still pretty inexpensive, and taxes aren't as bad as someof the surrounding burbs if you want to buy.