Hive mind of City-Data - help me narrow my search

[holl1ngsworth]

Originally Posted by nonnieparent

Hello, I've read a bunch on this forum - thank you. helping the folks on this forum can help me narrow or focus my search.

We are a family of 5 city-dwellers looking at the suburbs because CPS resources are horrific and no longer sufficient to meet our needs. Here is my list, in order:

1. Good high school. By good, I mean well-resourced, small class sizes, students feel safe and part of the community.
2. Excellent support for dyselexia at the high school level. Corroborated by outside therapists.
3. Can buy / rent decent 3-4 bedroom SFH for under $450k or rental equivalent. Non-negotiable list includes 1500+ SF, hardwood floors, 7' ceilings, and the electrical panel isn't a total disaster.
4. Metra commute of under an hour on the local.
5. Racially diverse population.

We really started looking too late to get a feel for what is possible as it seems the spring suburban house market is winding down. We've looked at a lot of garbage @ open houses! (I know open houses are typically not great anyway.) My hit list includes the following - am I missing something else? Are my assumptions correct?

Evanston - meets 1, 2, 4, 5; think 3 will be hard
Oak Park - meets 1, 4, 5
Riverside - meets 1 and 4
Brookfield - meets 1, 3, 4
Glenbrook South - meets 1, 2, 4
La Grange - meets 1, 2, 4
Skokie - meets all but the houses we've seen are TINY. Not a fan of the 50s 1-level ranch
Morton Grove - meets 1, 3, 4

Where else should we be looking? We have ruled out Naperville/Wheaton (#2) New Trier (#1/2) and Schaumburg (#5). Would you agree with my assumptions?

I wouldn't score #1 for Skokie or Morton Grove. Wheaton and Naperville have two of the best reputations for #2 in Chicagoland, meet #1 and #3 by a large measure, and for #4 have rush Metra <45 mins.

[Kmanshouse]

Some of Lisle is in the Naperville 203 school district, and the commute would be reasonable.

Also like the Downers Grove idea.

[RJA29]

Originally Posted by Kmanshouse

Some of Lisle is in the Naperville 203 school district, and the commute would be reasonable.

Also like the Downers Grove idea.

The OP might try Downers Grove North - but I'm not certain how the support for dyslexic children is. Otherwise, it would cover the other bases (with the big caveat of a racially diverse population), and there should be decent houses in the $450K range.

I'm inclined to think that all five options won't be possible together - which of these would be the easiest one or two to leave off of the list?

[4122]

I would recommend Arlington Heights. It's One of the best districts for special education. It meets One, two, three, four. Neighboring Mount Prospect would work to and meets all your criteria.

[nonnieparent]

Originally Posted by RJA29

The OP might try Downers Grove North - but I'm not certain how the support for dyslexic children is. Otherwise, it would cover the other bases (with the big caveat of a racially diverse population), and there should be decent houses in the $450K range.

I'm inclined to think that all five options won't be possible together - which of these would be the easiest one or two to leave off of the list?

Agreed. We are also now looking townhomes and rowhouses in the closer ring suburbs because its a way to get more of what we want at a more affordable price point. I'm worried about resale value, but IDK how people can afford to buy the $1M+ homes that seem to be everywhere. I don't view housing as an investment, it's a way to get into a better school system without getting paying rent.

DG is a nonstarter on #2. If #4 wasn't important I'd look at Grayslake as it had good support for dyslexia at the HS level. Naperville and Wheaton are also decidedly meh for dyslexia support and if I miss the express train, I'm looking at a 90+ minute commute. I think #5 is probably the first to go, but I'm really reluctant to do so.

[RJA29]

Originally Posted by nonnieparent

Agreed. We are also now looking townhomes and rowhouses in the closer ring suburbs because its a way to get more of what we want at a more affordable price point. I'm worried about resale value, but IDK how people can afford to buy the $1M+ homes that seem to be everywhere. I don't view housing as an investment, it's a way to get into a better school system without getting paying rent.

DG is a nonstarter on #2. If #4 wasn't important I'd look at Grayslake as it had good support for dyslexia at the HS level. Naperville and Wheaton are also decidedly meh for dyslexia support and if I miss the express train, I'm looking at a 90+ minute commute. I think #5 is probably the first to go, but I'm really reluctant to do so.

Good luck - you just might have to sacrifice a racially diverse population to get what you're looking for.

As for "all the $1MM homes" there are not really that many. With an 8MM population in the area, it doesn't take a lot of doctors, lawyers, successful business owners, etc., to have a few hundred thousand 1MM+ homes. Plus, wealth and income aren't always equally correlated.

Anyway - good luck!

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by nonnieparent

Where else should we be looking? We have ruled out Naperville/Wheaton (#2) New Trier (#1/2) and Schaumburg (#5). Would you agree with my assumptions?

The only thing I question is you ruling out Schaumburg based on diversity... This town is more racially diverse than others on your list (e.g. La Grange). Look at the stats.... I actually think Shaumburg is a good fit based on your needs - diverse, good HS, good special needs programs, Metra stop, and within your price range.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by nonnieparent

With this post, you have confirmed for me that #3 will be hard in Evanston. Both of these homes are at the top of my range, have dormered bedroom ceilings, and very likely have messy wiring.

Taxes in Evanston seem really reasonable. Only a slight bump from my current city dwelling assessments.

Both of those homes are actually in Skokie, we call the area Skokie-Evanston or Skevanston. That is why the property taxes are slightly lower. Property taxes in Evanston proper are higher.