Huntley, Algonquin or Lake Zurich (Chicago, Palatine: budget, job, housing)

[zaxxon25]

I will be moving to chicago shortly due to new job from Wisconsin. My job will be in downtown and my wife will be working in deerfield. We are thinking of buying house and our budget is 350000. Things top of our mind are safe neighbourhood, good school and good shopping places around. I have read lot of threads on forum and 2 areas i have shortlisted are area above schaumburg like huntley or algonquin....the other option is lake zurich or fox groove side....Some of you who are living in these areas can help us in furthure shortlisting to single area ...Any advice , views will be highly appreciated

[nanannie]

Lake Zurich has good schools,old neighborhoods are nice around the lake,and many sub divisions,lots of shopping,and would not be too bad a commute to Deerfield.The commute downtowon would be by train I assume.FoX River Grove has a station,LZ uses Barringtons or FRG.FRG is small,older neighborhoods and new sub divisions,nice parks on the river(great sled hill),not much there for shopping but you are surrounded by it in all the nearby communities.The older part of Algonquin is nice,quaint,river front,but they filled in the hilly area surrounding it with cookie cutter tree less subdivions(again,no Metra station so your commute would be rush hour mayhem,or park and ride at a nearby town.).Lots of shopping and ok schools.I dont care for once rural Huntley IMHO.Its just one big strip mall/sub-division now,but many are moving there so something is a draw.Inexpensive housing perhaps.I would not want to commute to Deerfield from there every day.

[FB1977]

I think Algonquin would be a good area for what you are looking for (schools, etc) but I thought I'd mention the long commute. I live right on the edge of Carpentersville/Algonquin, and I used to commute to Northbrook (next to Deerfield). My commute was at least an hour (sometimes even an hour & 15 min) during the normal rush hour times. I tried all different routes, and the best I could find was one that only took an hour. Just something to consider...

[zaxxon25]

thanks for your input...what about palatine and dundee....

[nanannie]

Palatine has a nice downtown,some beautiful historic homes,nice 'hoods,very good schools,close to plenty of shopping.Also,Metra train for the downtown commute.Dundee is a charming,old river town,lovely old homes and neighborhoods,alot of growth in the form of new subdivisions and shopping outside of the immediete village.I have heard "iffy" things about the high schoo(maybe someone has a different view on this) and no train to the city.I would mapquest your wifes job location in Deerfield to these areas you are choosing if you havent already.Long,winter commutes by car in rush hour would make for one wicked woman

[xxJoyfulxx]

I would be careful of schools in Palatine and especially Dundee, just from reports I have read and things I have heard they don't seem to be the best. But I don't have direct experience in those districts so check around.

You may want to check a little north of Algonquin area and take a look around Cary & Crystal Lake. But you would still have 45-1hr commute to Deerfield from Cary. But there are good schools, safe area and along the Metra rail for getting into the city.

If you need to commute downtown, try to stay near public transportation lines - any driving commutes downtown to Chicago will make you crazy in time (from the burbs). And it's just more economical - there are some nice areas in your price range along the Metra lines.

Good luck!

[nanannie]

Most of the schools in Palatine are very good.There are a few pocket areas with section 8 housing and a large hispanic group,but most of the towns areas/schools are very good .We have several friends that put their kids thru the schools,including Fremd High,and give them high marks.Dundee borders Carpenterville,which has had gang disturbances,and a large illegal hispanic population recently causing a lot of noise in the local govt( this seems to happen often now adays in many of the burbs).I beleive parts of C'ville go to Dundee schools.

[zaxxon25]

thanks for all ur views...it is lake zurich most probably for us however couple of last minute questions...
a) is cary equal to lake zurich in terms of good and safe neighbourhood...i saw prices down over there
b) how is lake in the hill ....

[Arun]

I have friends who live in Cary. Its very safe area plus great schools. Please keep in mind that Cary is much farther to Hwys than Lake Zurich thats why prices are lower.

If you need any other details, please reach out to me directly.

[nanannie]

Cary is a nice town,good schools with a metra train to the city and off of Rts 14 and 31, major thru streets.Its neighbored by Crystal Lake on one side, which has every store and chain you can imagine and Barrington on the other,an affluent burb.No crime anywhere around to speak of or be concerned about.You would, again,have to mapquest your wifes job in Deerfield to check on her commute.