Moving to Chicago (Rockford, Naperville, Evanston: employment, best schools, to live in)

[jimmy-2007]

I am going to have a job in Downtown Chicago, however I want to live in the out skirts of Chicago. I have 2 children to raise. What are the best areas to live, school and raise a family?

[chet everett]

Budget, preferences for housing style and tolerance for density will all make a difference as to what constitutes "outskirts". Generally the more affluent areas have the highest performing schools.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Really depends on your preferences and how long you want to be commuting
what ever you do look for a burb that has adequate access and parking to metra

[gramirez2012]

All depends on your budget.

[pvande55]

Downtown Chicago is approachable from almost anywhere within 50 miles. What is your price range and desired commute time?

[TruthInJest]

If you have the budget the best schools are on the North Shore... Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, and even Evanston... all great places to raise your kids.

[chet everett]

In my mind the term "outskirts" connotes a sort of rural fringe, the kind of place where the roads don't have sidewalks and you see things like marshes with cattails and little patches of land still being tilled. You won't find too much of that in the towns listed, they are some of the costliest burbs in the region.

Similarly there are number of suburban schools that have very high performing students. The relative desirability of schools like Stevenson High in Lincolshire, Hinsdale Central, Naperville North, and New Trier which all are in the upper ranks of performance attract folks to whom education is important, but also vary in the realtive access to employment in the Loop, the I-88 corridor, the North Cook Co/ Lake Co corridors and others.

In terms of absolute numbers the performance of CPS magnet schools like Northside and Payton blow away all others as the kids are already comming very well prepared and selected by test so that there are nothing but high achievers...

Originally Posted by TruthInJest

If you have the budget the best schools are on the North Shore... Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, and even Evanston... all great places to raise your kids.

[Vasily]

The real outskirts go all the way out to the Rockford Illinois area, southern Wisconsin, and western Indiana. I know people who live in all those areas and commute to Chicago. The area to the west between Route 59 and DeKalb is also popular with those who want to get away from the suburbs and live the semi-rural life ... you're talking about a truly brutal commute, though.

[dktheb]

First, welcome! Chicago and the areas around are really great for raising kids. Second, I agree with the other posters, we really need to know more about your budget and what kind of commute would work for you. Are you planning on taking the train in, or driving to work? If your children are school age, you can check out the illinois state school report cards on the internet to get more detailed info on schools. Great schools is also a good website for information, but can some times be swayed by just one or two posters if they did not have alot of responses on a certain school. Give us more info on what you are looking for.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by Vasily

The real outskirts go all the way out to the Rockford Illinois area, southern Wisconsin, and western Indiana. I know people who live in all those areas and commute to Chicago. The area to the west between Route 59 and DeKalb is also popular with those who want to get away from the suburbs and live the semi-rural life ... you're talking about a truly brutal commute, though.

brutal , that would burn you out in a matter of months