moving from Columbus, OH to Evanston, IL (Chicago, Naperville: mortgage, insurance)

[bob13]

Me and my family are considering moving from Columbus, OH to Evanston, IL. Does anyone have any suggestions for nice and safe neighborhood with relatively low rent? Also how easy is to reach surronding suburbs with the public trasnportation. Do you think that with about 35K/year it will be anough to go by?
Thanks

[TammyC]

Really, the only place we can be safe in the Chicago-land area is in Deefield and Highland Park. I live in Highland Park and have a nice home, but we can't all afford to live here. Look at thye crime rate percent in Deerfield and then look at the Hispanic percent. Coincidence? I think not.

The high taxes are all we can do to keep out undesirables.

TC

[jessica_luzon]

Stay close to the Northwestern University campus by the lake and areas to the north. It is pretty safe during the day. Just be careful at night, as you would in any urban areas. The area of Evanston to avoid is the part that borders Chicago to the south. Public transportation is great since it is basically next door to Chicago. 35K/yr is enough to go by, but then again, how large of a family are you going to support?

[vegfem]

There are almost no unsafe places to live in Evanston. I've been here my entire life. However, it is a little expensive. Rents vary. The best thing to do is to check out the classifieds in the Evanston Review, which is a Pioneer Press publication. The website is something with pioneerlocal in it. Easy to find via a search. There is an Evanston Wyoming, so be sure to specify Evanston, IL.

There is a site for the city that has lots of informationa as well.

The apartments near Northwestern University are often more expensive as there is a "captive" po****tion -- more students than available university housing. But the apartments in that area are all walking distance to the public transportation system. The "el" and the "metra" will take you into Chicago, which is how many people commute to work.

Evanston does have a racially mixed po****tion, so anyone who is uncomfortable with that, or has strong prejudices, won't like it. I happen to prefer a community that is racially and ethnically mixed.

We have fantastic restaurants here, a lot of entertainment choices, great stores -- many independently owned, near Lake Michigan and the city of Chicago, a very politically involved po****tion (sometimes to the chagrin of the elected officials who can get an earful on a lot of issues), and an occasionally responsive city staff. It helps to get to know the elected officials so if you have a problem in your neighborhood, you know who to call (or email).

Where to look for housing in Evanston has a bit to do with where you are going to work, why you want to be here. If you want to be near the University, and you don't want to drive, living near it, which is the east side of town and the closest to the "el" and "metra" train lines, and the lake and downtown Evanston, is where to look.

If you want to be closer to the Edens Expressway (94) you want to look on the northwest side of town.

Many people I know in the Chicago/Metro area say that Evanston is where they'd live if they could afford it. House prices are high, and our taxes are higher. But if you are going to rent, you may be able to find an affordable price, especially in a smaller, owner-occupied two or three flat. Just keep checking. The rental season here is usually May 1 and Oct 1, although there are always some units unoccupied, especially during the last several years of lower mortgage rates. Some building owners are cutting deals to get their apartment units rented -- like 1st months rent free.

Good luck!

[shlo]

Originally Posted by TammyC

Really, the only place we can be safe in the Chicago-land area is in Deefield and Highland Park. I live in Highland Park and have a nice home, but we can't all afford to live here. Look at thye crime rate percent in Deerfield and then look at the Hispanic percent. Coincidence? I think not.

The high taxes are all we can do to keep out undesirables.

TC

**** that noise. Evanstons a perfectly safe place to be, and the best part is all the ignorant bigots live out in Highland.

[IllinoisWoman]

Believe it! Evanston is dangerous. Go to http://www.cityofevanston.org/depart...ts/index.shtml
and read some crime reports. It's a shame, and it's frightening. I lived there back in the 70's, and it was dangerous then, it's only gotten worse. You can live cheaper in some parts of Niles, Skokie, some northwest parts of the city like Jefferson Park (NOT Rogers Park!), or further west, like Palatine, and be somewhat safer. Burglary is a major crime here. Buy an extra deadbolt lock for your apartment door, and give your landlord the key, get renter's insurance. $35K is NOT a lot to live on, you might just make ends meet. Rents are high, figure around $1,000 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment. Gas is expensive, too. Either get a part time job or have your significant other get a job.

[medwestgirl]

I'm sure you are a bigot and racist yourself. Being proud of your race and wanting to live with your own kind does not make you a bigot. To the person who felt so freely to place that label on obviously white people who wish to live with their own kind. Every other culture seems to be free to express that wish except white people. I'm glad I live in a safe clean white neighborhood where I am better off. Just look at the demographics of most of the best places to live. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Midwestgirl

[disappointed]

Evanston like other areas of Chicago have it's good and bad areas, like someone suggested you have to peruse the suburb yourself. This is so sad. I've lived in Chicago my whole life and I've travelled quite often. Chicago with all its great architecture and culture is home to the most racist minded people. Economics is the main reason for crime not race. It just so happens the economically disadvantaged are minorities. I am quite sure the minorities living in Naperville, Lake Forest and the other affluent suburbs of Chicago don't commit such crimes. Given an unearned privilege like easily accesible mortgages versus a minority who may have worked just as hard doesn't make you special it makes you - Spoiled. There are a lot of crimes commited by more than 90% by White males and spoiled housewives who claim post partum to kill their children. My point is- we all have our vices but bigoted statements further divide us. Chicago is too great a city, to still be years behind in race relations. It's is worst than many parts of the South.

[nbear]

I lived in Evanston for 18 years. As with any town, it has it positives and negatives. Stay away from the high school area, that area is horrible and there is lots of crime. North Evanston is where you would like to be, however, it is terribly expensive. $35,000 would not cut it, you would need to get a second job to be able to afford living around that area. You may want to consider some outlying suburbs and drive in.

[goirish]

Originally Posted by bob13

Me and my family are considering moving from Columbus, OH to Evanston, IL. Does anyone have any suggestions for nice and safe neighborhood with relatively low rent? Also how easy is to reach surronding suburbs with the public trasnportation. Do you think that with about 35K/year it will be anough to go by?
Thanks

Evanston (south and downtown) was once a cheap place to live but no more. The same can be said for the entire north side of Chicago and at least this North suburb and perhaps Skokie and Niles. On 35,000 you will have a HARD time living here.

With that income I suggest living in Rogers Park even though it is the city and it has some problems with crime. I lived in Rogers Park and worked in Evanston and took the CTA every day or rode a bike.

There are two areas I would consider:

1.) West Rogers Park: you can take a bus, or walk to the METRA station, but this area has no shops and can be remote if you wind up in the wrong area. It is the safest part of the neighborhood. It also has a large Jewish community and some interesting food options because of this.

2.) Loyola area: I would look for an apartment near the Loyola University Lakeshore campus. You should be able to find a small but nice apartment and "live" on $35,000.

Loyola near the "EL" has the best mix of things to do, easy access to the CTA (using the "EL" you can get to the Loop, hip neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, and also get up to Evanston via the Howard Stop). If you are near the campus Loyola and the city police patrol. I lived there many years and was never a victim of crime in the day or in the night. They had a movie theater, shops, coffee shops, etc., and college kids and professors all around - not to mention being on the lake with 2-3 beaches.

Transportation to the other north suburbs off the METRA line and CTA line can be hard to do without a car. In Chicago you really do need at least one car per family.

Chicago has a lot of "apartment brokers" who can find you a place in a day.

Some of the board posts are a bit strange. Hispanics are criminals? Others have already gone after that whacko. Poor people commit more petty crime and property crimes and rich people steal millions from pension funds, banks, and through organized criminal activity. In Chicago you might be robbed of $5 on the street, but some guy from Highland Park might steal millions from his company's pension fund and get off even though he has destroyed the lives of thousands of hard working whites, blacks, Jews, and Hispanics? Goofy.