Help Me Find a Suburb! (Naperville, Des Plaines: middle-class, condo, townhouse)

[Annima76]

My husband and I are looking to relocate. He works as a stagehand and will mainly be working downtown (United Center, theatre district...) He does NOT want to be in his car for more than 1hr for a commute time. I want a family friendly neighborhood. We are looking to spend in the $275-$300 range. We have 2 large dogs so an apt. or townhouse really isn't for us.
We have young children and would prefer a good school district. We are basically your typical white middle-class americans.

Any suggestions?

[giazma]

i live in west joliet, and it is great here for young kids and dogs, we are in the minooka school district. It is prolly an hour from the city in aspects of 55N in the AM but there is the train that goes right downtown not to far away. Our home is about 2600 sf 4 bed 2.5 bath with a loft......if you are looking for a smaller house you can find many closer to the city, but if you are looking for bigger it may be tough to get close to the city for under 300k.

[mrh5103]

Naperville is the ideal surburban town, and a great place to raise kids. The commute should be significantly less than one hour.

[Chinolala]

Downers Grove, Elmwood Park, LaGrange, Niles, Morton Grove, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect - all easy commutes to downtown and with commuter train options.

[Annima76]

The train really isn't an option for him. He wouldn't be off work until sometimes 1 am and I don't think the train runs that late.

I saw some houses on line in Roselle that looked decent, any thoughts on that city?

[sbd78]

Originally Posted by Annima76

The train really isn't an option for him. He wouldn't be off work until sometimes 1 am and I don't think the train runs that late.

I saw some houses on line in Roselle that looked decent, any thoughts on that city?

Roselle is a nice town and should fit the bill for what you are looking for. Schools are good (Lake Park district) there is a train station in case your husband decided to take the train, drive time should be under an hour (during non rush hour) to the city.

[elisabetm]

Unfortunately, Naperville isn't exactly the place a stagehand is going to feel comfortable. Even at the top of their budget, they won't get much of anything. Maybe a small condo conversion. Naperville is "family friendly" only if you make a considerable amount of money, have an impressive job, drive the right car, wear the right clothes and your kids are incredibly gifted in all ways. IMO, of course.

Originally Posted by mrh5103

Naperville is the ideal surburban town, and a great place to raise kids. The commute should be significantly less than one hour.

[Annima76]

What about Villa Park? I read in another post that it was a decent town. And is Bollingbrook as bad as people on here make it sound?

[nanannie]

I think Villa Park is a much better choice. AND its surrounded by really nice burbs for restaraunts,shopping etc.

[emmi605]

Villa Park is fine. It feeds into two different elementary districts, so check on both if you are interested in the schools. I believe one is the Salt Creek District and the other is shared with part of Lombard.