Evanston vs. New Trier (Chicago, Naperville: crime rate, house, good schools)

[LakeShoreSoxGo]

Schaumburg isn't that bad. Way too much hype against it. You talk about it like its Berwyn or somthing.

[Anthera]

And I did mean north shore country day school. I would be interested to see test scores vs new trier if anyone has them.

Its a private school - they really don't release their test data. College acceptances are available on their website.

There are some quotas for low income kids in place but I don't believe those who didn't get into magnet schools go there.

I was unclear.. Its not the scholarship kids I was referring to, rather kids who go to Chicago City Day and other private schools with no high school who make the trek up north if they don't get into a good HS downtown.

They are a decent prep school, certainly no culver or exeter.

Different animal, admissions aren't that selective at NSCD, they are at Culver & Exeter. Those schools also draw from a larger population. NSCD is a really good school, but its not a gifted school. Roycemore has the best gifted program where kids can go accross the street to NU for classes if they qualify. My money is on Roycemore having better test scores than NSCD, but NSCD having better college acceptances.

[Humboldt1]

Schaumburg still sucks. It is one of the most boring suburbs I have ever been to. Other that Woodfield Mall and its restaurants and a number of businesses I bank out there I have no compelling reason to go there.

Plainfield is just a cheaper and more remote version of Schaumburg. Chattam and Mattesson only wish they were Schaumburg.

I mean this is a town of 90,000 people with no real core. Olde Schaumburg is a joke, just a bunch of cheap looking stores planted at the intersection of roselle and schaumburg. The golf courses are cheap and some of the worst I have played on designed for the park district crowd surrounded by cheap townhomes.

One redeeming thing for Schaumburg is Country Donuts along Roselle Road and Deerfields is also good. Mostly, it is just a bunch of blah blah, chain stores and restaurants with no real character. Most of the houses are okay, but mostly cheaply built. Also, much of the housing stock is from the 60s and 70s into the 80s and doesn't look all that great, mostly dated. If a 1970s ranch with a 2 car garage is your thing perhaps it is the town for you.

My friend in college from Schaumburg used to rave in 1998 how great the area was, maybe it is was a great area once. It is no longer a great area. It is not a bad area, just not a great area.

I did not mean to imply the schools were anywhere near as bad as Berwyn or a Cicero. Schaumburg schools are pretty decent, not Stevenson or New Trier but decent, perhaps a little worse than Naperville.

The town itself just bores me as do the people. An example of typical Schaumburg is Alumni Club. I hadn't been there in 5 years and went there about 8 months ago. It was basically the same people I saw 5 years ago, except now they were 5 years older and a little fatter, pretty sad folks. It was like the folks at Alumni Club in Schaumburg were denied admission in one of the trendy clubs in Chicago and were forced to go out there to drink it up.

If you want to live in a brick-fronted 3500 sq ft house with siding that goes for 450M and work for Motorola while your spouse works some other office job and raise 2-3 kids with a SUV (why not just break down and get the minivan, much more practical), and go to church at either Harvest or Willow Creek and talk amongst your white friends about how you disdain black and poor people and then go watch shows at the Improv then Schaumburg may be the place for you.

Personally, I would rather live somewhere else, except maybe save Bartlett, Hanover Park, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, or Villa Park. There are many other areas much worse than Schaumburg this is true. Matteson and Chattam aspire to be Schaumburg but instead of peaking in 1995 like Schaumburg peaked in 1985-1990. They also have the southside crap from Chicago flowing into their towns. This is not the case as Schaumburg has a relatively good job base and is on the relatively safe northwest side. Schaumburg is mostly lower middle to middle class white and asian, with a sprinkling of hispanics and a few blacks.

Still, Schaumburg sucks in my opinion.

[LakeShoreSoxGo]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

Schaumburg still sucks. It is one of the most boring suburbs I have ever been to. Other that Woodfield Mall and its restaurants and a number of businesses I bank out there I have no compelling reason to go there.

Plainfield is just a cheaper and more remote version of Schaumburg. Chattam and Mattesson only wish they were Schaumburg.

I mean this is a town of 90,000 people with no real core. Olde Schaumburg is a joke, just a bunch of cheap looking stores planted at the intersection of roselle and schaumburg. The golf courses are cheap and some of the worst I have played on designed for the park district crowd surrounded by cheap townhomes.

One redeeming thing for Schaumburg is Country Donuts along Roselle Road and Deerfields is also good. Mostly, it is just a bunch of blah blah, chain stores and restaurants with no real character. Most of the houses are okay, but mostly cheaply built. Also, much of the housing stock is from the 60s and 70s into the 80s and doesn't look all that great, mostly dated. If a 1970s ranch with a 2 car garage is your thing perhaps it is the town for you.

My friend in college from Schaumburg used to rave in 1998 how great the area was, maybe it is was a great area once. It is no longer a great area. It is not a bad area, just not a great area.

I did not mean to imply the schools were anywhere near as bad as Berwyn or a Cicero. Schaumburg schools are pretty decent, not Stevenson or New Trier but decent, perhaps a little worse than Naperville.

The town itself just bores me as do the people. An example of typical Schaumburg is Alumni Club. I hadn't been there in 5 years and went there about 8 months ago. It was basically the same people I saw 5 years ago, except now they were 5 years older and a little fatter, pretty sad folks. It was like the folks at Alumni Club in Schaumburg were denied admission in one of the trendy clubs in Chicago and were forced to go out there to drink it up.

If you want to live in a brick-fronted 3500 sq ft house with siding that goes for 450M and work for Motorola while your spouse works some other office job and raise 2-3 kids with a SUV (why not just break down and get the minivan, much more practical), and go to church at either Harvest or Willow Creek and talk amongst your white friends about how you disdain black and poor people and then go watch shows at the Improv then Schaumburg may be the place for you.

Personally, I would rather live somewhere else, except maybe save Bartlett, Hanover Park, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, or Villa Park. There are many other areas much worse than Schaumburg this is true. Matteson and Chattam aspire to be Schaumburg but instead of peaking in 1995 like Schaumburg peaked in 1985-1990. They also have the southside crap from Chicago flowing into their towns. This is not the case as Schaumburg has a relatively good job base and is on the relatively safe northwest side. Schaumburg is mostly lower middle to middle class white and asian, with a sprinkling of hispanics and a few blacks.

Still, Schaumburg sucks in my opinion.

I suppose I have a lot of issues with your post, and I will admitt that to some extent, I take offence. I've worked/played in Schaumburg and have good friends as well as family there. I don't really know where to begin with your post so I will address each point.


You say Schaumburg is boring...despite the fact that your statement highly subjective, it just does not make sense to me. Schaumburg boasts comedy venues, dance clubs, bars, virtually every shopping and dining taste(save faux botiques and high society fine dining). I don't see how that could possibly classify as boring when you compare it to highly desirable suburbs like Glen Ellyn, Deerfield, Barrington that barley have so much as an old town movie theater. No offence, but some people don't conisder being chased by a 14 year old gang banger in Humboldt park as a source of exitement.


You say plainfield is a cheaper version of Shaumburg... But what does that MEAN? Do you mean that in the sense that its further west and cheaper but has similar attributes, like West Bucktown to the rest of Bucktown? Please elaborate...because Schaumburg is not alot like Plainfield in my opinion. Schaumburg has more to do, better shopping and dining, better commute to the city, less crime, less illegal immigrants, pricier housing, better schools, better library, larger police force with more gadgets to play with...need I go on?

A town of 90,000 people? I don't know where you get your facts but Schaumburg is not Elgin Or Des Plaines. Schaumburgs got roughly about 75,000 people, and the population is dropping due to parents becoming empty nesters and the cost of living in desirable NW burbs.

Your lack of historical knowledge of Schaumburg is obvious and it shows in your post. If you knew anything about Schaumburg you would know that up until after World War 2 the area was pretty much nothing...Woods and corn. The town was incorporated in 1956, a year after is neighbor to the east, rolling meadows. Scahumburg was not a rail town, it simply never was, at the time of its incorporation, there were just 130 residents. That's not a whole lot of people which is going to equate to not a lot of historic buildings. This is why all the housing stock you see is *surpise* post world war 2. And this is why there is not *surprise* downtown centered around a metra station.

The town center has many nice resteraunts and shops and shaumburg has done alot to spruce the area up a bit. That strip used to be the main drag between the rest of the exurbs and the corn fields. The housing stock may not be the most elegant, but it is typical of most Chicago suburbs that came of age between the 60's and 80's. Furthermore the majority of homes are very well upkept, which is not the case in your neck of the woods, I might add.(you conisder a house built in the 60's as dated?..oh please this isn't california)

And the schools in Schaumburg are pretty good. Infact next to new triers HSdistrict, HS distirct 211 is the best Hs district in cook county. Their falcualty salaries are far better than virtually all of their suburban counter parts. This comes primarily from the tax dollars from all those horrible retail stores and 'dated' neighborhoods you speak of.


So you are basing the character of Schaumburg residents on an stint at the Alumni club? Oh brother....I'd guess you were a teenager but you WERE in the bar. That would be like me making a character judgement on Chicagoans based on what I saw at Big City Tap.

Your assesment of Schaumburg is sophmoric at best, and personally I really think you need to get off the whole FAUX urbanism high horse(a creatively synthisized school of thought that you did not conjure up on your own). I find this odd that a seemingly peaceful and decent suburb, could muster up so much bad blood. Especially since you live in Humboldt Park, which isn't exactly most peoples cup of tea. Id rather watch out for the soccer moms cutting me off than the vato's and thugs trying to carjack me or break into my car.

[Humboldt1]

I know Schaumburg a lot better than you give me credit for.

I lived in Arlington Heights for 1 year before buying my first place in Itasca, which I lived in for 3 years and still rent out. I have only been in Chicago since 2006.

I also worked in Schaumburg for 1 year and Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows for 4 years.

Schaumburg does have a lot of great corporate restaurants such as Cheesecake Factory and Wild Fire and many others. And for shopping you can get just about whatever you are looking for at Woodfield. And yes all those restaurants and shops do contribute towards property taxes.

And yes there are a number of recreational opportunities close by, including Busse Woods. I used to go running there all the time when I worked there.

What I am saying is that there is no real town core. Maybe this is just intrinsic to areas that are now sprawling suburbs that once were cornfields such as Schaumburg. Elk Grove Village is much like this as well, though mostly poorer with the exception of the housing behind Alexian brothers.

I do not mean to imply that Schaumburg is a bad area just that it sucks in my opinion, in that it is boring.

And calling the clubs such as the Living Room and restaurants such as Pete Miller's (both average age 50+) trendy is a stretch.

Maybe I should have qualified and said for me as a 30 year single guy, Schaumburg sucks. For others, it may be fine.


And your remark here was well, it speaks for itself:

No offence, but some people don't conisder being chased by a 14 year old gang banger in Humboldt park as a source of exitement.


In the few blocks surrounding where I live I have made a point to get to know my neighbors. We stick together, regardless of skin color. Sure, gangbangers are present but they generally respect you so long as you respect them. I do not fear them.

Furthermore the majority of homes are very well upkept, which is not the case in your neck of the woods, I might add.(you conisder a house built in the 60's as dated?..oh please this isn't california)

The homes in my area of Humboldt Park are very well-kept. Many of the owners of the 2 to 4 flats such as myself live in the buildings. The housing stock of brick buildings built 1910-1930 is far superior to cheaply built cookie cutter housing built in the 1960s. In 100 years, which buildings do you think will be in better shape?

And the schools in Schaumburg are pretty good. In fact next to new triers HSdistrict, HS distirct 211 is the best Hs district in cook county. Their falcualty salaries are far better than virtually all of their suburban counter parts. This comes primarily from the tax dollars from all those horrible retail stores and 'dated' neighborhoods you speak of.

Naperville and Stevenson are both superior but located in Lake and Dupage. I agree with you that all those stores helps significantly with the tax base. And I never said the schools were bad, just that there were some that were better (only a few).

I personally like Itasca the town center portion, not so much the townhouse area in which I own as it is mostly a bedroom community and retired people. I might buy a house in Itasca in the near future. I like Elmhurst and Glenview too.

I am from rural Indiana and may actually go back (10 years or so) and farm with my dad once I have made my money here in Chicago so I don't what the whole FAUX urbanism high horse is about. I just like towns with a real town center, not something fabricated and then cheaply built and given a cheesy name like "Olde Schaumburg."

I just said for a single 30 year old such as myself, Schaumburg is boring and sucks. Do you honestly believe the area has improved over the last 5-10 years? It has been stagnant at best.

Of course, this is just my opinion, as others may think otherwise.

And sorry, not all poor non-white people are trying to jack you or your car.

Id rather watch out for the soccer moms cutting me off than the vato's and thugs trying to carjack me or break into my car.

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

Schaumburg still sucks. It is one of the most boring suburbs I have ever been to. Other that Woodfield Mall and its restaurants and a number of businesses I bank out there I have no compelling reason to go there.

Plainfield is just a cheaper and more remote version of Schaumburg. Chattam and Mattesson only wish they were Schaumburg.

I mean this is a town of 90,000 people with no real core. Olde Schaumburg is a joke, just a bunch of cheap looking stores planted at the intersection of roselle and schaumburg. The golf courses are cheap and some of the worst I have played on designed for the park district crowd surrounded by cheap townhomes.

One redeeming thing for Schaumburg is Country Donuts along Roselle Road and Deerfields is also good. Mostly, it is just a bunch of blah blah, chain stores and restaurants with no real character. Most of the houses are okay, but mostly cheaply built. Also, much of the housing stock is from the 60s and 70s into the 80s and doesn't look all that great, mostly dated. If a 1970s ranch with a 2 car garage is your thing perhaps it is the town for you.

My friend in college from Schaumburg used to rave in 1998 how great the area was, maybe it is was a great area once. It is no longer a great area. It is not a bad area, just not a great area.

I did not mean to imply the schools were anywhere near as bad as Berwyn or a Cicero. Schaumburg schools are pretty decent, not Stevenson or New Trier but decent, perhaps a little worse than Naperville.

The town itself just bores me as do the people. An example of typical Schaumburg is Alumni Club. I hadn't been there in 5 years and went there about 8 months ago. It was basically the same people I saw 5 years ago, except now they were 5 years older and a little fatter, pretty sad folks. It was like the folks at Alumni Club in Schaumburg were denied admission in one of the trendy clubs in Chicago and were forced to go out there to drink it up.

If you want to live in a brick-fronted 3500 sq ft house with siding that goes for 450M and work for Motorola while your spouse works some other office job and raise 2-3 kids with a SUV (why not just break down and get the minivan, much more practical), and go to church at either Harvest or Willow Creek and talk amongst your white friends about how you disdain black and poor people and then go watch shows at the Improv then Schaumburg may be the place for you.

Personally, I would rather live somewhere else, except maybe save Bartlett, Hanover Park, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, or Villa Park. There are many other areas much worse than Schaumburg this is true. Matteson and Chattam aspire to be Schaumburg but instead of peaking in 1995 like Schaumburg peaked in 1985-1990. They also have the southside crap from Chicago flowing into their towns. This is not the case as Schaumburg has a relatively good job base and is on the relatively safe northwest side. Schaumburg is mostly lower middle to middle class white and asian, with a sprinkling of hispanics and a few blacks.

Still, Schaumburg sucks in my opinion.

I was also surprised by your negativity toward Schaumburg. I found much of your post inaccurate and offensive. How incredibly elitist when you refer to Schaumburg residents as "fatter, pretty sad folks" who are "mostly lower middle to middle class" who "work office jobs" and "disdain black and poor people." PLUS you think "The golf courses are cheap."

Sorry, Schaumburg isn't Kenilworth but it's filled w/ hard-working people of all ages, races and income levels. Some of the nicest people around. There is plenty of economic, racial and religious diversity in the town.

The town has excellent schools, one of the best libraries in the state, and great park district programs. There is a minor league baseball park, a wonderful art/theatre community (Schaumburg Arts Ctr) and many music/art festivals. It is next to Busse Woods forest preserve for great hiking/biking trails, lakes, etc.

There is also great dining - not just the chain restaurants by the mall but also good Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and the Indian restaurants near Plum Grove /Schaumburg Rd.

For many, it is a very convenient location as there are several big corporate HQ's and colleges in town. There is access to all the major highways and shopping. Also, the real estate market consistently does well as, over the years, I've bought/sold in this town.

Sure, Alumni Club is probably 1 of the cheesiest bars around (and has been for 20 years) but don't judge an entire town by this. Many Schaumburg residents also disdain this club. And, btw, Willow Creek church isn't even in Schaumburg. Also, the comment about Schaumburg residents being racist is extremely offensive and couldn't be farther from the truth.

[Ophidian14]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

If you want to live in a brick-fronted 3500 sq ft house with siding that goes for 450M and work for Motorola while your spouse works some other office job and raise 2-3 kids with a SUV (why not just break down and get the minivan, much more practical), and go to church at either Harvest or Willow Creek and talk amongst your white friends about how you disdain black and poor people and then go watch shows at the Improv then Schaumburg may be the place for you.

I will jump in here to add that "go[ing] to church at Harvest" and "disdain[ing] black and poor people" are mutually exclusive practices...which you would know if you actually went there.

[mia220]

I love watching you guys go at it. Just enjoy where you live, okay?

[Humboldt1]

I know where willow creek is. I went there for 3 years, south barrington with water from hoffman, but many from schaumburg go there. Harvest is actually in rolling meadows.

I never said that going church made you a racist but there are certainly plenty of racists (not just jeremiah wright) who go to church.

Ophidian for the record I go to church every sunday and have since I was a little boy so your assumption that I don't go is way offbase. Just because I am not a fan of Schaumburg don't go assuming stuff like that. In fact, my family has been on the board of directors at a church in my hometown since 1840.

Schaumburg just bores me (it sucks for me). For the record I nearly bought a townhouse in schaumburg near the ballpark but the hanover park elementary and middle schools kept me from closing. The high school would have been Schaumburg. It is located at springsgouth and irving.

[nJohn]

fight, fight, fight, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!!