New Lenox - Why we love it! (Chicago, Oak Lawn: crime, houses)

[wuvablepebbles]

I have seen alot of mention about Frankfort, Mokena, Orland, Tinley..but not much mention of our area. So here is my write up!

We lived in a not so great (but improving) neighborhood on the SW side of Chicago. We had 3 daughters 14, 7, 3 years. We decided to move to New Lenox because it was in the Lincolnway High School district which could handle my gifted teen daughter. I-355 would be opening soon allowing my husband to commute to work in the city. And it seemed very family friendly but most importantly had some housing in 200K's price range that would still allow me to stay home with my toddler till she was old enough to attend school.

1.5 years later we couldn't be happier with our choice! New Lenox is just a wonderful place to raise our family. We are on the north side of New Lenox not far from I-355/I-80. The 355 expansion is WONDERFUL for travel north.

We don't live in one of the more upscale neighborhoods (which there are plenty of nice ones if that is in your price range) but even with that our area is fantastic! Every one of our neighbors are wonderful helpful people. I've never met nicer folks. The houses are not McMansions but they are still nice, quiet, and comfortable (specially if your a first time homebuyers like we are). We do have a nice larger yard to make up for lack of house size (which does allow for an addition in the future... one of the reasons we chose it).

We have city water and sewer and there will soon be new strip malls and a new Lincolnway highschool being build which my daughter will be in the first graduating class of. We already have plenty of shopping but can get to Orland and Mokena in about 15-20 minutes for more options. There are 2 Metra stations.. one on the north and one on the south side.

If your have a budding or established family with kids. Looking for a smaller town feel still close to big city amenities. A town with a variety of housing and transportation options. An area with GREAT schools (can not brag about the schools enough). Where crime is low and you feel SAFE letting your kids out to play with the neighbors kids please check out New Lenox. We'd love to have you!

[brown fam]

Sounds like a great area. Is it a diverse area?

[janegone]

It's not the least bit diverse, which sadly is why many people choose the far southwest suburbs.

[chet6635]

new lenox is plenty diverse it is directly next to joliet and joliet also has some areas in the lincoln way district.

[janegone]

According to city-data.com, 95.6% white, 3.2% hispanic, .8% other, .8% 2 or more races.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by janegone

According to city-data.com, 95.6% white, 3.2% hispanic, .8% other, .8% 2 or more races.

not very diverse.

[NYrules]

New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, Orland Park/Hills, Tinley Park, Palos Park...Hills... and Heights, Oak Lawn, Hickory Hills, Oak Forest, Crestwood, Homer Glen, Lemont, Willow Springs, Worth, Chicago Ridge, Burbank (most of it), Merrionette Park, would be your "all white" southern burbs pretty much, meaning they are more than 90% white. This is very much the norm in the Chicago metro area. It is a VERY segregated city.

Example... Country Club Hills which is right next to the "all white" Oak Forest is something like 90% black now after 20 years of white flight. Go figure that one out. Same goes for Oak Forest to Markham. The blacks and whites apparently can live across the street from one another (Pulaski or 183rd) but cannot live in the same zip code. (scratching my head)

[vester72]

Originally Posted by NYrules

New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, Orland Park/Hills, Tinley Park, Palos Park...Hills... and Heights, Oak Lawn, Hickory Hills, Oak Forest, Crestwood, Homer Glen, Lemont, Willow Springs, Worth, Chicago Ridge, Burbank (most of it), Merrionette Park, would be your "all white" southern burbs pretty much, meaning they are more than 90% white. This is very much the norm in the Chicago metro area. It is a VERY segregated city.

Example... Country Club Hills which is right next to the "all white" Oak Forest is something like 90% black now after 20 years of white flight. Go figure that one out. Same goes for Oak Forest to Markham. The blacks and whites apparently can live across the street from one another (Pulaski or 183rd) but cannot live in the same zip code. (scratching my head)

It is crazy.

I am a white guy, and here is my observation growing up on the South Side - this does NOT reflect my views or personal feelings, just my observatons of "white flight".

It seems white people are cool with black people, i.e. living with them when there are a few in the area, like 10-20% of the population. Then, there seems to be a "tipping point" where the white people see more blacks moving in, then get worried they will be in the minority someday - then they start to leave in masses and stop buying in communities - then the inevitable happens.

You hear about crime, schools, whatever causing the whites to leave, but we all know the real reason. Heck, most of the schools in the South Burbs were never that good to begin with so it's not like the racial shift has caused some crazy drop off in test scores.

I went to Evergreen Park High School and graduated in '90 - the school was 100% white and the average ACT was 18 - it is now 60% white, 20% and 20% Black and Latino and the average ACT is higher by 2-3 points.

It has to end someday, there are only so many places for people to run to. It is really crazy - I can understand the socio-economic side of things (wanting to live by people close to your or higher than your income bracket), but the skin color craziness/fear/segregation perplexes me.

[HighPlainsDrifter73]

I live right in the core of these southwest suburbs and I can tell you that lack of diversity is why many people have moved here either from closer in suburbs or the city. I see nothing wrong with lack of diversity. What's wrong with people wanting to live around others of the same race? I just don't get it. I feel much more comfortable being around others like myself.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by HighPlainsDrifter73

I live right in the core of these southwest suburbs and I can tell you that lack of diversity is why many people have moved here either from closer in suburbs or the city. I see nothing wrong with lack of diversity. What's wrong with people wanting to live around others of the same race? I just don't get it. I feel much more comfortable being around others like myself.

I agree which is why I chose Orland Park.