Looking for info on Lake Zurich vs. Algonquin (Chicago, Arlington Heights: real estate, sex offenders)

[jesp]

My wife and I currently live in Colorado, but I'm getting ready to accept a new position in northern Schaumburg. We have been looking at homes online and have interest in the Lake Zurich and Algonquin areas.

Our criteria are probably like most people's:
-Good schools
-low crime
-friendly people
-general quality of life
-I would like to keep the commute under 40 minutes. I'm not familiar with
Chicago traffic. Is this possible?

I have looked online at other places around Schaumburg, but the prices seem a bit high for what you get.

It appears you can get more home for the money in Algonquin than in Lake Zurich. Is that because of the distance from Chicago? We don't care about that so much.

Anyway, our price range is about $450-$500k for the house.

Can anybody give a recommendation on these towns?
Thanks a lot.

[nanannie]

I think they both fit your criteria. Schools,no crime, commute to S'burg. You will have to come see which fits better. I like Algonquins older, hilly area, closer to its cute 'downtown' along the Fox river. A little further out starts the plethora of newer strip malls and cookie cutter sub divisions minus any trees, (acres and acres of little boxes), which alot of people must like as its crowded. Lake Zurich has a nice lake, small 'town' but again, mostly strip malls and sub divisions. The plus side is alot of shopping and restaraunts in all these strip malls, so everything you need is close by. Next to Zurich is Kildeer and Long Grove, nice,wooded,large lots, but not much for under 500. As is Barrington, an affluent community and Palatine. Both very desirable and fit your requests.You may have more housing choices in these priceyareas do to the market. I would also suggest you take a look at Arlington Heights, a very desirable community with a great downtown, easy commmute to S'burg, great schools, and easy metra train ride to Chicago. (also , easy one to O'hare when needed) Good Luck to you. You will miss the mountains, but lots to do around here.

[IbeDavid]

Originally Posted by jesp

My wife and I currently live in Colorado, but I'm getting ready to accept a new position in northern Schaumburg. We have been looking at homes online and have interest in the Lake Zurich and Algonquin areas.

Our criteria are probably like most people's:
-Good schools
-low crime
-friendly people
-general quality of life
-I would like to keep the commute under 40 minutes. I'm not familiar with
Chicago traffic. Is this possible?

I have looked online at other places around Schaumburg, but the prices seem a bit high for what you get.

It appears you can get more home for the money in Algonquin than in Lake Zurich. Is that because of the distance from Chicago? We don't care about that so much.

Anyway, our price range is about $450-$500k for the house.

Can anybody give a recommendation on these towns?
Thanks a lot.

REPLY: I agree with the other Poster except for the 'no crime' comment ; its everywhere and growing as our nation becomes more morally degraded. For $500 k youll find plenty of homes in Alg. and L.Z. in that price range . Both communities are considered upscale with L.Z maybe being a tad higher. Great convenience to shops, malls, restaurants, parks, drives out in the country, etc.. I cant comment on the school systems . Both areas are fast growing areas as Lake County is the last Chicagoland county to be super-developed. But that is very good for home values down the road., once the Real Estate slump ends.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by IbeDavid

REPLY: I agree with the other Poster except for the 'no crime' comment ; its everywhere and growing as our nation becomes more morally degraded. For $500 k youll find plenty of homes in Alg. and L.Z. in that price range . Both communities are considered upscale with L.Z maybe being a tad higher. Great convenience to shops, malls, restaurants, parks, drives out in the country, etc.. I cant comment on the school systems . Both areas are fast growing areas as Lake County is the last Chicagoland county to be super-developed. But that is very good for home values down the road., once the Real Estate slump ends.

I hope you will let us know what info you have on crimes in those areas. It is pretty unheard of save for the petty retail theft or as mentioned in other threads, vandalism in new homes. I have lived in the area (Barrington)20 years and consider it very safe. No place is immune to ALL crime, but I think the crime is pretty slight in those burbs.

[jesp]

Originally Posted by nanannie

I hope you will let us know what info you have on crimes in those areas. It is pretty unheard of save for the petty retail theft or as mentioned in other threads, vandalism in new homes. I have lived in the area (Barrington)20 years and consider it very safe. No place is immune to ALL crime, but I think the crime is pretty slight in those burbs.

I have seen a few different websites(including this one) that have crime stats for both of these towns. They seem to vary a bit from site to site and break the numbers down differently, but they both seem to stay well below the national average. It's hard to say which one comes out on top. I guess maybe when they are that close it doesn't matter too much.

[middle-aged mom]

Generally speaking, you will get a better bang for your housing $ in Algonquin.
You might also get a $9000-$10,000 annual property tax bill.

Other areas to consider:

Deer Park - homes feeding into LZ schools are usually less costly than the ones feeding Barrington.

Hoffmann Estates- homes feeding Barrington schools

Arlington Heights is a great community and close to Schamburg but your money will not go as far as some of the outlying areas.

[diane3]

Good schools The High School in Algonquin (Jakobs) is terriable however the elementry schools are great. LZ has very nice schools.
-low crime Both have pretty low crime
-friendly people I find people in Algonquin are much more friendly
-general quality of life I honestly love Algonquin a lot more than LZ there is nice and lots of shopping and is still quiet. You would also be very close to I-90 which will take you right to schaumburg in about a half hour.

[IbeDavid]

Originally Posted by nanannie

I hope you will let us know what info you have on crimes in those areas. It is pretty unheard of save for the petty retail theft or as mentioned in other threads, vandalism in new homes. I have lived in the area (Barrington)20 years and consider it very safe. No place is immune to ALL crime, but I think the crime is pretty slight in those burbs.

REPLY: Lake Zurich, Illinois (IL) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders : 51 burgularys / 283 thefts for 2006 . Granted, its lower than than the U.S. average but still very present. Keep in mind that not all thefts get
reported, so the number is higher. Typically, its not residents of a particular town that are the perpetrators, its outsiders who target upscale communities.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by diane3

I find people in Algonquin are much more friendly

I think Algonquin's population is about 31,000 while Lake Zurich is about 21,000. Chances are most people, in both towns are friendly.

I have never heard of a place that could be considered "unfriendly".

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by IbeDavid

REPLY: Lake Zurich, Illinois (IL) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders : 51 burgularys / 283 thefts for 2006 . Granted, its lower than than the U.S. average but still very present. Keep in mind that not all thefts get
reported, so the number is higher. Typically, its not residents of a particular town that are the perpetrators, its outsiders who target upscale communities.

Here's a link for Algonquin: 65 burgularys/466 thefts.
Algonquin, Illinois (IL) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

Neither stat is alarming as these things go.