Relocating from Florida - Oak Park? (Chicago, Evanston: violent crime, buying a house, neighborhoods)

[gtrgrl74]

Thinking of buying a house in Oak Park. Family with small children. Not planning on public schools, but are there any areas we should stay away from? The violent crime index seems kind of high. If this isn't a good area, any recommendations? I really like the old houses. My husband is from Chicago and I am a Florida native. I think I am going to freeze! Thank you.

[emmi605]

I would search "Oak Park" there is so much on that town you will be reading for hours! It has a lot of great aspects, but has had some problems. The area of Oak Park that I am most familiar with is the Northwest side and that is beautiful. Why do you shy from public schools? They are different here, not county wide and many are very good. Just wondering.

[oakparkdude]

Generally crime in Oak Park is a function of proximity to Austin Blvd (the eastern border of Oak Park). The municipal website (Welcome to the Village of Oak Park) shows crime maps representing locations of reported crime for the past few months. Property taxes in Oak Park are extremely high, the majority of which goes toward supporting the well-regarded school system. If you are not going to enroll your kids in the public schools, it might make more sense financially to live elsewhere, perhaps the adjacent towns of Forest Park or Berwyn.

[brenty]

Oak Park is a very nice suburb of Chicago. It is around 10 minutes by car from Downtown Chicago. Oak Park is the closest suburb to the Chicago Loop. In fact it is closer than many of the Chicago neighborhoods. I am guessing that because you are from Florida you might enjoy our lakefront. A good alternative to Oak Park would be Evanston. Evanston is a northern suburb in the affluent North Shore region. Evanston will give you a more suburban feel but will still be as vibrant as Oak Park. Evanston has a magnificent lakefront that includes: Northwestern University, Lakefront Parks, Evanston Art Center/Lighthouse, Dog Beach, Beaches, and wonderful large lakefront mansions in the Northeast and Southeast sections. Evanston has a lot of old house some between 1860 and 1890, but most being built between 1890 and 1920. Evanston has lower crime than Oak Park, but as with all of the cities that boarder Chicago it is slightly elevated compared to the other suburbs, and it is nothing to worry about, whether you live in Oak Park or Evanston. Also I do not know if you like mediterranean architecture, but there are quite a few of these in Evanston. I would definitely recommend public schools. Many of the Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, and High School are highly rated. Willard is a fantastic elementary school that serves Evanston's Upscale Northwest Section. Haven and Nichols Middle Schools are also very nice. If in the end you decide against public schools, North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka, Lake Forest Country Day School in Lake Forest, and Roycemore School in Evanston, are all good options. Most children who attend the private schools go on to attend their public high school. North Shore Country Day and Roycemore do provide a high school option. It is really not that cold here in Chicago. I have to admit, I grew up in suburban Cleveland, and lived in the Bay Area. Many times the lakefront suburbs stay warmer. I do not know your price range but Oak Park will demand $$, but Evanston will demand more $$$$.

Good Luck

[crbcrbrgv]

Don't live East of Ridgeland or along Roosevelt. East of Ridgeland gets dicey and around Roosevelt is more like north Berwyn.

[futurecitizen]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

Don't live East of Ridgeland or along Roosevelt. East of Ridgeland gets dicey and around Roosevelt is more like north Berwyn.

Can you explain what you mean by dicey? Do you know anything about Behr park and that area around Irving school?

[mendelman]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

Don't live East of Ridgeland or along Roosevelt. East of Ridgeland gets dicey and around Roosevelt is more like north Berwyn.

I hate to rehash an oft repeated argument, but...c'mon....quit perpetuating such silly stereotypes.

I currently live "east of Ridgeland" right near the Green Line and never have any problems. And "near Roosevelt" is such a load. Great things are happening on Roosevelt that is wouldn't hestiate living in the area.

but obviously, Oak Park is bascially "living in the city", so you just have to put yourself in that frame of mind.

Dicey?.....Ha!

[gtrgrl74]

In answer to your question on public schools, I come from a state that has an awful school system. I know the one up there is much better. I am wanting to get my children into the University of Chicago Lab schools which is the only reason I am shying away from public schools at this point. Thanks again.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by gtrgrl74

In answer to your question on public schools, I come from a state that has an awful school system. I know the one up there is much better. I am wanting to get my children into the University of Chicago Lab schools which is the only reason I am shying away from public schools at this point. Thanks again.

The Lab school is excellent, as you know, but an awful long commute, unless you or your husband will also be working in Hyde Park.

[OakBrookMom]

If you can afford Lab for 3 kids maybe you should consider River Forest which is just west of Oak Park with some of the most beautiful older homes you'll see anywhere in the Chicago area. The Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District in Oak Park is an old home lovers dream as well. Again I'd like to reiterate what others have said - the public schools here are quite good. My dad's practice is in Oak Park and his partners kids all attended OPRF public schools, were in the gifted program and had no trouble at Yale, NYU, Stanford or Columbia with the slacker of the bunch coasting through Northwestern with honors. Spend the money on college funds or wait until high school and send them to Fenwick.