Help, moved to Highland Park, don't think this is the place for us? (Chicago: best city, house)

[float83]

We moved to Highland Park from out of state. I don't know if this is the right place for us. What is the best city for a jewish family looking for a nice, humble and caring community.
I would characterize us as being liberal, creative and laid back.
As far as school goes, we would like a little diversity.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by float83

We moved to Highland Park from out of state. I don't know if this is the right place for us. What is the best city for a jewish family looking for a nice, humble and caring community.
I would characterize us as being liberal, creative and laid back.
As far as school goes, we would like a little diversity.

Have you looked into Skokie?

[nanannie]

I agree with Steve about Skokie-also look at Evanston.

[Joe107]

Buffalo Grove

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by float83

We moved to Highland Park from out of state. I don't know if this is the right place for us. What is the best city for a jewish family looking for a nice, humble and caring community.
I would characterize us as being liberal, creative and laid back.
As far as school goes, we would like a little diversity.

Do you need to be on the northside? Oak Park is creative and diverse and close to the expressway and "L" also, but it's considered the southwest side.

I personally don't like Highland Park as I found my experiences there to be somewhat boring, but I have a friend from California who insists on buying a place there.

[nanannie]

Highland Park is a lovely burb on the lake with a charming downtown,great schools and beautiful 'hoods. I think opinions are based on personal experience and some of these ,unfortuntly, are not always positive. Sometines it might be based on running into less then friendly people, which we all know can be found in anywhere USA.

[Paige65]

Tell us what you don't like about it, and then we'll steer you somewhere else.

However, most of the people I know in Highland Park are caring, creative and liberal. Perhaps you have met some bad seeds? Admittedly, humble can be a toss up. Some yes, and some no. I would imagine you'd find that humble problem most anywhere though.

If you really feel HP is not right for you, I'd suggest Evanston, even though there isn't a significant jewish population there. I don't think there's a synagogue in Evanston, but I could be wrong about that as I'm not jewish and don't know much about synagogues beyond Highland Park/Glencoe. Though Buffalo Grove has a significant jewish population, it doesn't seem your style. I'm not sure if Skokie would be the answer either, but it may as there would be diveristy there. I also think Lincolnwood has a jewish population and good schools.
How long have you lived in Highland Park? Have you had specific experiences that have soured you to the community, or is it just an overall feeling that you have that it's not right for you?

I'm truly sorry you feel it's not a good fit for your family. Must of us HP'ers are nice, caring people, at least in my part of HP.

I hope you find a place that is more like what you are looking for.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by ITChick

...Oak Park...it's considered the southwest side...

Exactly how is a town that lies due west of Chicago on the southwest side? Madison St. runs through Oak Park! This is certainly going to be news to Oak Parkers that they are no longer in the west 'burbs!

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Exactly how is a town that lies due west of Chicago on the southwest side? Madison St. runs through Oak Park! This is certainly going to be news to Oak Parkers that they are no longer in the west 'burbs!

Okay, so would you like to call it the 'west burbs', perhaps?

From Highland Park, it is south of there and west of Chicago. Is that better?

[vester72]

Highland Park is beautiful, great town with great schools, two of by best friends grew up there and now live their where they are raising their families and they love it.

My experience has been good, but the one thing I notice is that when I meet their friends, neighbors and hang out with them there, is the reaction I get when I tell people I live in the South Loop and am moving to Frankfort and grew up on the South Side.

"Oh. . ." trailing off, then they tell me about how they live in Highland Park, Northbrook, Deerfield, Lake Forest, etc and say it like they are embarrassed because they are living in such a "prestigious" place and I do not live around there. Seriously, that is the reason I decided not to buy there (yes, I can afford a nice house there).

I really thought it was a fluke the first time this happens which was years ago, but it still happens today - it is funny now and a running joke.

My friend thought I was crazy moving to the SW side, until they saw the house I was building and the neighborhoods in Frankfort and the schools and shopping, now they feel not as smart for having to pay $750k for a 3,000 sq ft house they had to rehab when I got new construction for the same price that is twice the size with twice the yard.

That being said, I love the North Shore, just not the place that I wanted to raise my kids, but it is one of the nicest areas in the Midwest, or country for that matter.