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Old 10-02-2007, 10:02 AM
 
8 posts, read 31,655 times
Reputation: 10

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My family is considering moving to the Chicago Area for a job. I have a 7th grader and 9th grader. We are from a small town and are looking for a nice, safe and friendly area that is not extremely large to move into. My kids are somewhat shy and I don't want to overwhelm them. We are looking for schools that focus on academics, they both are straight A students and have a desire to learn.
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Old 10-02-2007, 11:05 AM
 
Location: Chicago
2,467 posts, read 12,244,664 times
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Where exactly is the job? Before you receive recs, you want to make sure that you wouldn't have a 2 hour commute or something.
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Old 10-03-2007, 06:38 AM
 
8 posts, read 31,655 times
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Default Moving to Chicago Area

In Des Plaines
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Old 10-08-2007, 03:40 PM
 
3 posts, read 16,698 times
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Default depends on how much you can afford

You will probably have heart failure when you see what real estate sells/rents for. If money is not an issue, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Libertyville are progressively North from Des Plaines and all have excellent schools. Des Plaines itself has some nice neighborhoods but I do no know anything about their academics.
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Old 10-09-2007, 06:03 PM
 
Location: Evanston
153 posts, read 209,729 times
Reputation: 19
Try the North Shore
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Old 10-10-2007, 06:42 AM
 
8 posts, read 31,655 times
Reputation: 10
Heart Failure is an understatement. Wow! The taxes are much higher than we expected too.
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Old 10-10-2007, 09:01 AM
 
1,464 posts, read 5,508,120 times
Reputation: 410
Quote:
Originally Posted by HELPTAN View Post
Heart Failure is an understatement. Wow! The taxes are much higher than we expected too.
If you are looking for lower taxes then at all costs steer AWAY from DuPage and Will Counties. Both's taxes are aweful. Surprisingly, if you are a resident, Cook County's taxes are not that bad. It has been a way of life around here that if you are a business open up in Will County but live in Cook. Cook's taxes are bad on businesses but not too bad on it's residents, and vice versus for the other counties. But the problem is though that Cook County is all built out. Or is it???

If you are looking for a community with great schools in a rural type of setting (ie lots of trees, rolling hills, ponds, swamps, woods) check out Palos Park. Now be prepared, Palos Park comes at a cost, it is kind of the hidden gem of the south burbs. It's close proximity to the city, but rural atmosphere has caused property values to skyrocket there. Taxes are average, not great, but average. Schools though are top of the line. There is train service to the Loop located right within the town.
YouTube - Afternoon Metra

Here is a link to a pic of what to expect in the town. Sorry its not the best. http://www.palos-real-estate.com/palosmain.jpg But overall this is what to expect. Lots of trees, water, and well not much else.

Here is a link to some homes that are for sale there. Don't freak out they are not all $1M +. Palos Park Homes for Sale. Real Estate in Palos Park, Illinois

Here is the village's site. Palos Park, Illinois

Here is some info on the schools, as you will see, according to this website the elementary schools are top of the line scoring a perfect 10 and a 9/10!Palos Park Schools

For H.S. you would fall into Amos Alonzo Stagg's district which is a very good school or Carl Sandburg depending on where you live. Either way, both schools are in district 230 which is known for being top of the line. District 230 Here is their zone map. Map of Attendance Area (http://district.d230.org/mapofattendancearea.asp - broken link) If you buy in the option zone, choose Sandburg.

Happy house hunting.

Last edited by NYrules; 10-10-2007 at 09:16 AM..
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Old 10-10-2007, 11:26 AM
 
Location: Chicago's burbs
1,016 posts, read 4,541,283 times
Reputation: 920
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYrules View Post
If you are looking for lower taxes then at all costs steer AWAY from DuPage and Will Counties. Both's taxes are aweful. Surprisingly, if you are a resident, Cook County's taxes are not that bad. It has been a way of life around here that if you are a business open up in Will County but live in Cook. Cook's taxes are bad on businesses but not too bad on it's residents, and vice versus for the other counties. But the problem is though that Cook County is all built out. Or is it???

If you are looking for a community with great schools in a rural type of setting (ie lots of trees, rolling hills, ponds, swamps, woods) check out Palos Park. Now be prepared, Palos Park comes at a cost, it is kind of the hidden gem of the south burbs. It's close proximity to the city, but rural atmosphere has caused property values to skyrocket there. Taxes are average, not great, but average. Schools though are top of the line. There is train service to the Loop located right within the town.
YouTube - Afternoon Metra

Here is a link to a pic of what to expect in the town. Sorry its not the best. http://www.palos-real-estate.com/palosmain.jpg But overall this is what to expect. Lots of trees, water, and well not much else.

Here is a link to some homes that are for sale there. Don't freak out they are not all $1M +. Palos Park Homes for Sale. Real Estate in Palos Park, Illinois

Here is the village's site. Palos Park, Illinois

Here is some info on the schools, as you will see, according to this website the elementary schools are top of the line scoring a perfect 10 and a 9/10!Palos Park Schools

For H.S. you would fall into Amos Alonzo Stagg's district which is a very good school or Carl Sandburg depending on where you live. Either way, both schools are in district 230 which is known for being top of the line. District 230 Here is their zone map. Map of Attendance Area (http://district.d230.org/mapofattendancearea.asp - broken link) If you buy in the option zone, choose Sandburg.

Happy house hunting.
Palos is a nice town, but since the job is in DesPlaines that would be probably over an hour commute each way in rush hour. What is your price range? That might help us give suggestions.
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Old 10-10-2007, 02:27 PM
 
4,721 posts, read 15,609,683 times
Reputation: 4817
I just recommended Arlington Heights to another new comer. Very nice, very desirable, vibrant downtown, great schools, hospital, shopping, parks,,lovely old 'hoods , metra train to the city, very close to DesPlaines,and depending where your job is,you could even skip the car commute and take the train, its just a couple stops to DesPlaines from Arlington Hts. Nope, I dont live there,but visit often. And as stated earlier, Palos Park would make for a HUUUGE commute. I would maybe add Park Ridge as a possibility,I am not sure the schools are as good as in A Hts.(,but they were good enough for Hillary Clinton and Harrison Ford)

Last edited by nanannie; 10-10-2007 at 03:46 PM..
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Old 10-10-2007, 03:09 PM
 
Location: Naperville - 20+ years
137 posts, read 549,445 times
Reputation: 55
As far as surrounding communities Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills & Libertyville are all good choices. Even Palatine & Rolling Meadows would make good choices. Unfortunatley I don't have a lot of knowledge about the schools up there. I would not make Palos Park a consideration at all unless you are planning on living out of your vehicle.
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