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View Poll Results: Which suburban area offers the most?
Northern Suburbs 65 47.45%
Western Suburbs 61 44.53%
Southern Suburbs 11 8.03%
Voters: 137. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 05-30-2015, 09:39 AM
 
Location: Mishawaka, Indiana
7,010 posts, read 11,896,685 times
Reputation: 5813

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Quote:
Originally Posted by ToriaT View Post
About the only thing the north suburbs have over the western suburbs is the lake and the huge lakeside mansions and estates of old money which really don't exist in the same way in the western suburb, although there are a lot of people with cash here. Otherwise I think the western burbs have them beat as a whole. Really, if you have to pick you can't really lose much because they are both nice. I think the western suburbs has better modern homes and mc mansion type places. Shopping...I think we have either equal or a little better. I was at Oakbrook Mall yesterday and its truly beautiful in the warm weather.
I've heard great things about Oakbrook, have yet to visit though. I'm not sure if Schaumburg is considered western or northern, but Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg definitely impressed me! I'm still exploring the Western Suburbs but haven't found anything in the area yet that really competes with the old money in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, the houses in those towns are enormous and some of them are quite old. Lake Forest is almost as old as Chicago itself.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr roboto View Post
I prefer the northern burns but that's cause I know them better. I was mostly kidding with my comment above.

Theres a ton in both the north and west burbs. For me nothing competes with the lake though.
Great point. For all the west suburbs, they don't have one important thing, and that's the lake.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4122 View Post
Ravinia isn't actually a town. It actually used to be a very long time ago, but now it's part of Highland Park.
Did not know it's part of Highland Park now, interesting.


Quote:
Originally Posted by 4122 View Post
For me, I would pick Southeastern Wisconsin because the cost of living is better and Wisconsin's economy is way better than Illinois'. Northwest Indiana is a nice alternative to living outside of Illinois yet still being in the Chicagoland, but I like Southeastern Wisconsin better, although a plus side to living in NWI would be lower property taxes. If I had to pick a region overall, it would be the north suburbs. The west suburbs are nice too and so are the southwest suburbs imo.
I live fairly close to the Wisconsin line and regularly visit Kenosha/Pleasant Prairie. I happen to like the area a lot. Mainly because they have a beautiful harbor, an older feeling yet artsy feeling downtown, the local universities contribute to this with the younger crowd I believe, and it is its own independent city. Basically a satellite city of Chicago, not really a suburb. The endless suburbia of Lake County kind of wears on me, there is only one centralized city in Lake County, and it's not exactly a great place, Waukegan. Sales tax and gas is also cheaper on the Wisconsin side.

I'm glad you mentioned NW Indiana as well. There is more to it than Gary/Hammond, with the gritty factories. You have Miller Beach, Michigan City, both with their own beaches along the water, which are quite nice. Then you have Merrillville and Crown Pointe, both nice little towns. Merrillvile has a nice mall and a good sized water park right next to it.

I've only been to a few western suburbs so far. Rosemont impressed me, but it's a city that tries to gain your attention from the interstate, which it has, since I drive by it so often. Park Ridge seemed like a very quaint town, the revitalization efforts in Elgin are astounding, I really would like to learn more about Elgin and find out all of what it has to offer. Naperville and Aurora, have only driven through them, but they seem to have a very large corporate presence, I'm sure there is a LOT of money in those two cities. Downtown Aurora from pictures looks to be very nice, have yet to visit it though.
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Old 05-30-2015, 11:18 AM
 
12,999 posts, read 18,794,920 times
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For demarcation purposes I-90 divides the west from the north an I-55 the west from the south, but west of the Plainfield bend the line continues on its southwest alignment.
NORTH
Great America, Ravinia, Bahai Temple, Great Lakes, Allstate Arena, Rivers Casino, Schaumburg Convention Center, Botanic Garden, Arlington Park.
Four commuter rail lines, two CTA rapid transit.
WEST
Fermilab, Rosemont Theater, Stephens Convention Center, Sears Center, several casinos, Brookfield Zoo, Drury Lane, Kane County Cougars, Maywood Park.
Three commuter rail lines, four CTA rapid transit.
SOUTH
Route 66 Speedway, Music Theater, Holiday Star Theater, several casinos.
Six commuter rail lines but no CTA rapid transit.

Looks like western suburbs lead in attractions. I ignored Lake Michigan since many of the shoreline cities charge exorbitant admission or parking fees to use their beaches. But, as many of their officials will note: It's a Beach, isn't it.

Last edited by pvande55; 05-30-2015 at 11:27 AM.. Reason: Add beach note.
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Old 05-30-2015, 11:51 AM
 
3,468 posts, read 2,136,307 times
Reputation: 1929
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColdAilment View Post
I've heard great things about Oakbrook, have yet to visit though. I'm not sure if Schaumburg is considered western or northern, but Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg definitely impressed me! I'm still exploring the Western Suburbs but haven't found anything in the area yet that really competes with the old money in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, the houses in those towns are enormous and some of them are quite old. Lake Forest is almost as old as Chicago itself.



Great point. For all the west suburbs, they don't have one important thing, and that's the lake.



Did not know it's part of Highland Park now, interesting.




I live fairly close to the Wisconsin line and regularly visit Kenosha/Pleasant Prairie. I happen to like the area a lot. Mainly because they have a beautiful harbor, an older feeling yet artsy feeling downtown, the local universities contribute to this with the younger crowd I believe, and it is its own independent city. Basically a satellite city of Chicago, not really a suburb. The endless suburbia of Lake County kind of wears on me, there is only one centralized city in Lake County, and it's not exactly a great place, Waukegan. Sales tax and gas is also cheaper on the Wisconsin side.

I'm glad you mentioned NW Indiana as well. There is more to it than Gary/Hammond, with the gritty factories. You have Miller Beach, Michigan City, both with their own beaches along the water, which are quite nice. Then you have Merrillville and Crown Pointe, both nice little towns. Merrillvile has a nice mall and a good sized water park right next to it.

I've only been to a few western suburbs so far. Rosemont impressed me, but it's a city that tries to gain your attention from the interstate, which it has, since I drive by it so often. Park Ridge seemed like a very quaint town, the revitalization efforts in Elgin are astounding, I really would like to learn more about Elgin and find out all of what it has to offer. Naperville and Aurora, have only driven through them, but they seem to have a very large corporate presence, I'm sure there is a LOT of money in those two cities. Downtown Aurora from pictures looks to be very nice, have yet to visit it though.
Next time you are in the western suburbs, try driving through Hinsdale - north of 55th St, south of Chicago Ave and east of Garfield St. Some of the wealthiest Chicagoland residents live or have lived in that specific part of Hinsdale including professional athletes, politicians, and business owners. Check it out, you will not be disappointed.
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Old 05-30-2015, 12:08 PM
 
Location: Naperville, Il
13 posts, read 23,211 times
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If there is one thing, besides the lake, that the northern suburbs beat all the rest on is architecture. For some reason, contemporary homes just aren't built here. But scattered throughout the north shore and Deerfield / Northbrook are some beautiful contemporary homes. Also, the homes up north are more unique in general. Out west it seems like people (builders) just don't care as much if their home is this or that type of model or a tract home.
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Old 05-30-2015, 12:08 PM
 
1,231 posts, read 2,063,234 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mr roboto View Post
I prefer the northern burns but that's cause I know them better. I was mostly kidding with my comment above.

Theres a ton in both the north and west burbs. For me nothing competes with the lake though.
Exactly why I like the north suburbs better than the west suburbs. There are absolutely no lakes in the west suburbs, except for Lake Hinsdale, but you can't put any boats on it.
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Old 05-30-2015, 01:17 PM
 
12,999 posts, read 18,794,920 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4122 View Post
Exactly why I like the north suburbs better than the west suburbs. There are absolutely no lakes in the west suburbs, except for Lake Hinsdale, but you can't put any boats on it.
True, but some put their boats in the water then put a few beers in their bellies, despite efforts to stop this. Fair warning, the season for that has just started.
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Old 05-30-2015, 02:18 PM
 
768 posts, read 1,091,511 times
Reputation: 370
For us, The NS is not Beachy – we are originally from MI and have been around a lot of water. We have a certain expectation with how beach towns should feel… In our opinion (now living here just over a year) west is best especially when you need a good central IL location. We do like Evanston though…
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Old 05-30-2015, 03:05 PM
 
1,517 posts, read 2,323,796 times
Reputation: 573
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4122 View Post
Exactly why I like the north suburbs better than the west suburbs. There are absolutely no lakes in the west suburbs, except for Lake Hinsdale, but you can't put any boats on it.
C'mon, this can't be serious.
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Old 05-30-2015, 03:28 PM
 
Location: Chicago
3,339 posts, read 5,954,405 times
Reputation: 4241
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4122 View Post
Exactly why I like the north suburbs better than the west suburbs. There are absolutely no lakes in the west suburbs, except for Lake Hinsdale, but you can't put any boats on it.
I don't think the average person is boating on Lake Michigan. If I had that kind of money, then sure, the lake would be a factor but it just isn't for the average person/family.

FWIW, you can boat on the Fox River in St. Charles and Elgin. Doing so is something that is much more within reach for the average family; I did it all the time growing up in St. Charles (a friend had the boat though, not my family).
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Old 05-30-2015, 03:49 PM
 
18 posts, read 44,108 times
Reputation: 10
I would take the northern burbs any day. There are some great communities with great schools for a decent range in price. Easy access to downtown and te lake, but very quick access to Milwaukee for a change of scene. Overall, WI cities aren't much compared to IL it is cheap to dine and play compared to IL. The economy in WI is very needy of IL tourist due to the dying economic conditions.
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