naperville vs sycamore

[Sycamoron]

Everyone is concerned with driving 20 minutes to go shopping in sycamore, but unless your day of shopping includes high end retailers, sycamore and the DeKalb area have almost everything needed within a 10 minute drive. The extreme commercial growth is causing new businesses to be built every day anyway. Expect Sycamore to be at Naperville's caliber in 20 years or less.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Sycamoron

Expect Sycamore to be at Naperville's caliber in 20 years or less.

LOL @ your username. I used to call myself that when I lived in Sycamore (which we called Sick-some-more).

And no way in heck will Sycamore ever be at Naperville's caliber. It might grow, but will never be as wealthy, large, etc, as N-ville. You know those fancy homes on 23 up near Peace Rd? Those would be considered small in N-ville.

[desert student]

What about St. Charles? Wonderful town that combines the small town charm of Sycamore, but has everything that Naperville does. Naperville was once a nice town, but is now nothing more than congested, strip mall "blah." Many subdivisions still have that "just plowed over cornfield" look to them. Don't be fooled. Naperville's overly priced, and overly praised downtown does not describe the rest of the city in the least. In fact I have met new residents from the southern subdivisions of town that have never even been "downtown". For the size of Naperville, it really doesn't offer anything that great. If you took Naperville today, and placed it on some cornfield, in an isolated part of Iowa, people would be bored out of there minds. As much as the residents deny it, Napervile depends on its neighbors for much of its entertainment and jobs. It is a not a city that could stand alone. St. Charles is a growing, but very well established community that offers a great quality of life, but without many of the hassles of Naperville and Aurora. I've never really been to Sycamore, but I have spent many many hours in St. Charles and can tell you that it is the "real" gem of the western suburbs. Check it out.

[mrswalzer]

Originally Posted by momandwifefromcali

I was just wondering if sycamore is as good and as family friendly as Naperville sounds. We are moving in 2008 to IL, and I was just surfing the net and found that houses in Sycamore are much more inexpensive and much newer than those in Naperville. Also I know that schools in Naperville are pretty good, how about those in sycamore? And the crime?
I can't wait to hear about this!

Hello,
I have lived in both Sycamore and Naperville--currently living in Naperville and thinking of buying a home in Sycamore. I am the mother of two small children, 3 and 1, and schools is a huge consideration for me, as it is with most parents. I grew up in Sycamore and went to NIU for my bachelors degree. I stay at home and currently enjoy the MANY things to do in Naperville. There are tons of great parks, restaraunts, and kid activities. The DuPage Childrens Museum is awesome--and the downtown area is very kid friendly with everything from a wonderful library, riverwalk--to a GAP. We moved to Naperville with the idea that it would be wonderful to be so close to so much--top notch schools--great hospitals--and lots of stuff to do. Apparently that is why everyone else moved here too--that is one of the only down sides--tons of traffic! All the time---tons of traffic! We live in a quiet subdivision about 1.5 miles south of downtown and really do enjoy it--however the neighborhood that we live in is one of the cheapest single family neighborhoods, homes range from 230-290k and you don't get much. My husband is looking into a job in Rockford--and since I don't want to live in Rockford (or anywhere near there) we are looking at Sycamore. Sycamore has lots of the things we love about Naperville--restaraunts, shopping and a very safe community. Crime is not really an issue in either town--Naperville has more Police officers than anywhere I have ever been--and you do feel very safe. Even going into downtown at night there are police on bikes everywhere making sure the college kids don't get too unruly. So all in all both are great towns--Sycamore is a little cheaper for a home--however both boast large Real Estate taxes--but if you want to live in a safe area these days you get what you pay for! Both communities offer many activities and groups for parents and kids--and have the neighborhoods are very friendly. So like I said I have lived in both for a good chunk of my life--and love them both! Good luck!